Plitvice Lakes National Park - A European Wonder

There are some shuttle bus that operates a certain route to facilitate transportation. They are within the park grounds and operate on a regular basis so there is nothing for you to worry about.

The Plitvice Lakes National Park is an exeptional Eurpoean wonder that encompasses 16 pristine lakes. It is the oldest lakes in place at the same time one of the Croatia's most priced possesions, lurring millions of tourists from all over the world. In 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park was hailed as Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

Plitvice Lakes National Park lies along the coast in between the Croatian cities of Zadar and Zagreb. It covers 50 acres of forest, hills, and lakes.

For first timers, it is best to book for a 4-hour tour guide, which is readily available for group travelers. Tour guides basically offer 5 languages including German, French, Spanish, Croatian and English.

If you look closely to the lake, you will notice some terrace-like formations which are very captivating. You should at least take a nice shot of them. The Plitvice Lakes National Park splits up the lakes in two sections, which composed the Upper and the Lower lakes. The journey from one section to another is facilitated by an electric boat operating on Lake Kozjak. The lakes in each section have the mountains of Medvedak, Mala Kapela and Pljesevica as scenic backgrounds. They are further separated by natural dams adorned with limestone deposits. Somehow, the lakes are still interconnected because of the surrounding waterfalls. To get from one lake to the next, you will be walking on wooden boardwalks and well-laid out trails. It takes a little time to cross the lake but the scenic view will surely not bore you off. Every single minute will definitely be worth it specially if you watch the waters in great motion.

Aside from crossing the lake, there is a number of hiking trails that tourists can try. They all come in different lengths around the park. The park is also rich in wildlife. You can see for yourself some animals like fox, bears, wolves, badgers, boars, and deers - but of course they are kept safe in a cage. The Plitvice Lakes National Park accomodates more than 250 species of birds, including storks, kingfishers, herons, hawks, owls and ospreys. Thus, wildlife viewing is one activity that should not be missed by anyone coming to Plitvice Lakes. At the center of the park lies a set of beautiful cascades, and the biggest of them all is appropriately named Big Waterfall, which releases water at the height of 256 feet.

You can enjoy the park in other ways like camping on the wide grounds of Camp Korana and Camp Borje. Plitvice Lakes also houses three hotels and a restaurant called Licka kuca (Lika House), which serves traditional cuisines from the Croatian region of Lika.

• Don't take a bath in the lake. This is quite understandable as the government wants to preserve the purity of the lakes.
• Avoid running around carelessly as you might trip off the stones.
• Do not touch the animals

You can plan a visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park at any time of the year. The park is especially a joyful sight in the summer with its surroundings bursting with the green hue. But it is also quite spectacular during other seasons as it reflects varying colors. The snow in the winter, turns the park into a white paradise.