Tel: (053) 751 015 (info)
Transport: bus: traveling Zagreb-Zadar
Plitvice Lakes National Park encompasses 16
turquoise, azure, blue and green lakes between mountains of Lička
Plješevica and Mala Kapela. Plitvice Lakes get their coloration from
the minerals, mainly dolomite and limestone, that the water washes
out yet it is incredibly clear and supports many forms of aquatic
life. The full length of cascades is 8 km (5 mi) which you can reach
by walking wooden footbridge. The twelfth upper lakes end with in
Velike Slap (Big Waterfall) that spills its water in a canyon 70
meters (230 feet) deep. Canyon has another four lakes that
eventually flow into the Korana River. The barriers and dams of
lakes are made of travertine which is deposited by moss, algae and
bacteria. They grow about 1 cm per year.
Despite its beauty
Plitvice Lakes National Park has always been the site of conflicts.
Illyrians, Thracians, Celts, Japods, Romans, Avars, Goths, Slavs and
Turks fought for this land over a long history. In March 1991
Plitvice Lakes National Park became the place where the first shots
were fired between Serbs and Croats. Since the war ended in 1995 and
the regions was retaken by the Croatian army mines were removed from
this UNESCO World Heritage site, however be advised that areas
outside of the park might still have mines left. The best way to
avoid them is keep close to cities and villages and don’t walk in
the woods off trail.
Legend
Plitvice Lakes consists of 16 lakes
located in the area between Mala Kapela and Plješivica in Lika. This
whole area is still called the Devil's Garden on some maps, because
of its location and history. According to the legend, Plitvice Lakes
were formed after a great drought. People, animals and plants,
longed for a drop of water. The people prayed and prayed. Then the
Black Queen appears in the valley with her majestic entourage; she
took pity on the people and with a strong wind and thunder the rain
finally fell on the ground. The rain fell so long, until the water
level rose enough, to form lakes.
General Information
The total area is 29,685
hectares, of which lakes make up 200 ha, forests 13,320 ha, and the
rest are grasslands and other areas. The average altitude is 600 m.
The lowest point is 367 m on the Koran Bridge, and the highest 1279
m on Seliški vrh. In 2006, there were 866,218 visitors. It is
located in two counties, 91% of the park is in Lika-Senj County, and
9% in Karlovac County. The park is divided into a narrower and a
wider zone according to the degree of protection.
Name
Dominik Vukasović, a parish priest from Otočac, first mentions the
name "Plitvice" in a written document from 1777. The name comes from
the word "shallow" or "shallow". For centuries, water has deposited
limestone and shallow pools (shallows or shallows) have formed.
Some scientists believe that the name of the Park comes from the
river Plitvice, which flows into the Plitvice Lakes at the bottom
and end of the lake. The nearby village bears the same name.
Position
Plitvice Lakes are located between the mountains of Mala
Kapela in the west and Plješivica in the east in the middle of the
Dinaric mountain massif. The national park is located along the
state road D1 Zagreb - Split between Slunj and Korenica in the
immediate vicinity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Larger places nearby
are: Ogulin, Rakovica, Otočac, Gospić in Croatia and Bihać in BiH.
The shortest distance between the Adriatic coast and the Park is
55 km. It is about 60 km away by road to the coastal town of Senj.
From the A1 motorway to the Park, you can get out at the Otočac
junction from the north or at the Gornja Ploča junction from the
south.
The nearest airports are: Zadar, Zagreb and Rijeka.
The nearest railway stations are Josipdol g transport can be easily
reached by the Park, direct lines from Zagreb, Karlovac, Zadar or
Split.
Climate
The average annual rainfall is 1500 mm. The
greatest amount of rain usually falls in spring and autumn. The
average relative humidity is 81.8%. In January, the average
temperature is 2.2 ° C. During the summer months in July and August,
the temperature rises to 17.4 ° C. The average annual temperature is
7.9 ° C. Snow falls from November to March. The lakes are usually
frozen during December and January.
The water temperature at
the springs is usually below 10 ° C. In rivers and lakes, the water
temperature rises to 20 ° C. Water temperature can fluctuate
greatly. Thus, on July 7, 1954, in Lake Kozjak at a depth of 4 m,
the temperature was 18.9 ° C. At a depth of 20 m, a temperature of 5
° C was measured. At a depth of 44 m, almost at the bottom of the
lake, a temperature of 4.1 ° C was measured.
Lakes
The
national park consists of 16 lakes, which gradually overflow and
descend into each other in a series of 5460 m as the crow flies. The
lakes are divided into Upper and Lower Lakes. The upper lakes are:
Prošćansko Lake, Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Batinovac, Veliko jezero,
Malo jezero, Vir, Galovac, Milino jezero, Gradinsko jezero, Veliki
Burget and Kozjak. The lower lakes are: Milanovac, Gavanovac,
Kaludjerovac and Novakovica Brod.
The lakes are watered by
the waters of the Black and White rivers from their tributaries and
the Rječica and its tributaries. There are many springs, where water
springs abundantly. These are typical karst springs formed on faults
of permeable and impermeable geological formations.
The
largest lake is Kozjak with 81.5 hectares, and the deepest with 47
m. Prošćansko Lake is the second largest and stretches from south to
north in the length of 2.5 km.
The Upper Lakes are mostly
dolomite geological material, and the Lower Limestone. The cave has
about 30. The travertine barriers, which separate one lake from
another are made of limestone deposited from the water. The
structure of travertine barriers is very sensitive and fragile, so
it requires a high degree of protection. The three main elements
are: abundance of water, tufa and tufa. Without water there would be
no lakes or waterfalls or lush vegetation. Tufa-forming plants are
plants that create travertine rocks and change the shape of lakes
and lake beds. Travertine barriers are a biological phenomenon of
extraordinary beauty.
One of the most beautiful waterfalls in
Plitvice - the waterfall between Milanovac and Gavanovac is named
"Milka Trnina waterfall" after the Croatian opera prima donna.
Topography
The special geographical position and specific
climatic features have contributed to the emergence of many natural
phenomena and the rich biodiversity in the Park area. Despite the
proximity of the Mediterranean climate region, a moderate mountain
climate prevails due to Velebit, which acts as a climate separator
between the coastal region and the Lika plateau.
Water availability, influenced by the terrain
configuration has a major impact on the biodiversity of this area.
The national park is located in the Plitvice Plateau, which is
surrounded by three mountains that are part of the Dinarides:
Plješivica (peak Gornja Plješevica 1640 m), Mala Kapela (Seliški vrh
at 1280 m) and Medveđak (884 m).
Forested hills serve as
reservoirs of water. They are also a refuge for many animal species.
The large difference in altitude in the narrow space between the
mountains in the south and the Korana River in the north is also a
significant reason for biodiversity in this region. The total
difference in altitude in the area of the national park is 912 m
(the highest altitude is Seliški vrh at 1279 m, and the lowest is
367 m on the bridge over the river Korana).
Travertine
sediments have been formed from the Pleistocene to the present day
in sinkholes and depressions between the surrounding mountains. The
Upper Lakes in the south are predominantly composed of dolomite, and
the Lower Lakes in the north of limestone rocks. Dolomite rocks have
lower water permeability. In contrast, limestone rocks are compact
and massive, but also more permeable.
From an aerial
perspective, significant differences can be seen between the
landscapes of the Upper and Lower Lakes. On the Upper Lakes there
are several small lakes arranged in parallel and a small flow of
water. The lower lakes are much larger and have formed the canyon of
the river Korana, which continues to flow towards Slunj and
Karlovac.
To the south of the park there is the confluence of
two small rivers: the White and Black rivers. These rivers flow
south of Plitvice Ljeskovac and unite on one of the bridges in that
village. Furthermore, they form a small river together, which is
called Matica. Another river flows into the lakes in Liman Bay, part
of Prošćansko Lake. Water is obtained from permanent sources, but
the amount of water varies. Temporarily, water from other, most
often dead streams reaches Prošćansko Lake from the west.
The
river Plitvice reaches the chain of Plitvice Lakes at the northern
end over the Great Waterfall. This place is called Compositions. The
water mass of Plitvice Lakes and the river Plitvice flows into the
Koran.
Underground and karst world
The underground
configuration of Plitvice Lakes consists of various geological
features. The entire area of the National Park belongs to the
karst areas of Southeast Europe. A typical feature are brittle and
porous rocks, mainly limestone and dolomite. This configuration is
rich in various geomorphological phenomena, such as abysses, karst
fields, bays, sinkholes, ravines, etc.
So far little is known
about this and scientific research has yet to follow. Most of the
karst natural phenomena take place underground, where there is an
abundance of water, mostly in the form of developed systems of
subterranean underground rivers. When water encounters impermeable
rocks, it comes to the surface.
The national park is rich in
karst rocks (mainly dolomite and limestone). Of the several caves,
the Golubnjača (145 m) and Šupljara (68 m) caves above Lake
Kaluđerovac are open to visitors. Other caves are Mračna špilja (160
m), Vila Jezerkinje (104 m) and Golubnjača na Homoljačko polje (153
m). Within the national park, there are several caves, such as
Čudinka (-203 m) or Cave on Vršić (-154 m, length 110 m). The bones
of a cave bear were found in the Rodić Cave on Sertić Poljana and in
the Dark Cave on the Lower Lakes.
Geology
The phenomena of
Plitvice Lakes are the result of centuries-old processes and
deposition of limestone, which is abundantly present in the waters
of this karst area. Sedimentation of limestone formed tufa.
The peculiarity of Plitvice Lakes is the fact that the lakes are
connected. Due to constant changes, it is not possible to analyze
individual lakes individually. The water masses of the upper and
lower part of the lake system continuously change the lakes and the
surrounding landscape. New sediments and new waterfalls are
continuously forming. On the whole, the lake complex represents a
very sensitive and unstable ecosystem.
In geological terms,
the formation phenomena of Plitvice Lakes are very young. Complex
processes of limestone decomposition and deposition require special
climatic conditions. They have existed since the end of the Ice Age
(about 12,000 to 15,000 years).
Important factors for the
occurrence of Plitvice natural phenomena are weather and temperature
conditions, water quality and other natural factors. Calcite
saturation is very high. The water is highly mineralized,
super-saturated with calcium and magnesium bicarbonates.
Limestone decomposition is related to carbonic
acid processes. In the natural environment, carbonic acid (H2CO3)
consists of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and rainwater (H2O).
Limestone and dolomite consist mainly of calcite (CaCO3), which is
poorly soluble in water. By the action of carbonic acid, calcium
bicarbonate (Ca (HCO3) 2) is formed from calcite. This is shown in
the following formulas:
H2O + CO2 ↔ H2CO3 ↔ H + + HCO3- ↔ 2 H
+ + CO32-
CaCO3 + H2CO3 → Ca (HCO3) 2
CaCO3 + H + + HCO3- ↔
Ca2 + + 2 HCO3- ↔ Ca (HCO3) 2
A unique process occurs in Plitvice Lakes with
regard to other similar phenomena in the world. Here, limestone
deposition and tufa formation is a dynamic process, not a static
one, occurring in only one place.
Another special feature is
the influence of vegetation in the deposition process. Vegetation
barriers slow down water flow. The water foams considerably, making
waterfalls and cascades more attractive. At Plitvice, this
interaction between water, air, rocks and vegetation is constantly
dynamic and changing.
About 30 km north of the Park, there
are Rastoke in the center of Slunj, which are also called "small
Plitvice Lakes" because they have similar phenomena. The rivers
Korana and Slunjčica intertwine here.
Measurements of the
amount of carbon dioxide in the water show that they correspond to
the continuous deposition processes in the area of Plitvice Lakes.
The amount of carbon dioxide at the sources is about twenty times
higher than in the atmosphere. It decreases downstream. The Plitvice
River thus loses up to 97% of the initial amount of carbon dioxide
over time.
Precipitation
Travertine occurs on the Korana
River only for the first 10 to 15 km, even if the conditions for pH
measurements are favorable for further kilometers. At the bottom of
Lake Kozjak, a constant annual deposition of 0.8 mm has been
established over the last 3,000 years. Annually, the obstacles grow
up to 13 mm in height. The processes of tufa formation thus overcome
erosion, which would destroy the sensitive barriers of the lake. It
is estimated that there are tufa deposits at the bottom of the lake
that are 6000 or even 7000 years old.
Calcium carbonate
deposition does not occur immediately at the sources of rivers,
which flow into Plitvice Lakes. A certain level of mineral
saturation is required for precipitation. At sources, the saturated
level is below 1. For precipitation, the saturation level must be
greater than 3, the pH of the water must be above 8.0 (slightly
alkaline), and the dissolved organic carbon concentration must be
less than 10 mg / l.
Travertine barriers are the result of a
continuous deposition process. As water flows in thin layers over
the barriers, carbonate precipitates from the water. The amount of
carbon dioxide CO2 is increasing. Calcium carbonate is excreted in
the form of precipitated microcrystals, in the form of CaCO3 tufa
deposits. This phenomenon occurs especially where there is moss,
which allows better adhesion of crystals.
Over time, older
barriers can be overwhelmed by rising water levels as new barriers
outgrow old ones. 400 years ago, there were two lakes on the site of
today's Lake Kozjak. In the lowest part of the lake, near
Matijašević-draga, underwater barriers are 40 m high and extend 4 m
below the water surface. These barriers have shaped a magnificent
waterfall in the past.
Influence of vegetation on travertine
barriers
Moss, algae and aquatic plants play an important role in
shaping the unique landscape of Plitvice Lakes and travertine
barriers. Plants bind carbon dioxide from water in the process of
photosynthesis and produce oxygen. Hydrogen carbonate precipitates
along the way.
The Croatian scientist Ivo Pevalek had the
most research on Plitvice. Thanks to him, Plitvice Lakes received
national and world protection. Recent scientific research shows that
vegetation is not primarily responsible for the excretion of
carbonates from running water. However, plants indirectly contribute
to the formation of tufa. The key factors for deposition are: water
deceleration, aeration and spraying. Moss serves as a substrate for
deposition. Millions of microscopically small bacteria and algae,
which grow on moss, are also important. They secrete mucus, which is
important in the microcrystallization of calcite. The most
significant are mosses from the genera Bryum and Cratoneuron.
The young shoots of moss are green and soft and mostly
tufa-free, while the older shoots are completely covered and
petrified. Moss not only encourages the formation of travertine
barriers, but also becomes part of the barrier. Older travertine
barriers are filled with fossilized algae and mosses. This type of
tufa is typical for Plitvice Lakes.
Although vegetation has
positive effects on tufa formation, excessive concentrations of
organic matter in water have negative effects on these processes. If
there are too many plants, there are negative effects on mineral
deposition. The Korana downstream of the Korana Bridge has a very
short travertine deposition process, despite the supersaturation of
calcium bicarbonate, due to the excessive concentration of organic
matter in the water. The Park Authority has systematically begun to
remove excess vegetation along travertine barriers. The purity of
the water is a decisive factor in the formation of tufa. The value
of dissolved carbon in the water barely exceeds 2.5 mg / L in the
Upper Lakes (Matica). Concentrations of 5.15 mg / L are higher in
the Lower Lakes. Similar concentrations have been found at the
sources of other Croatian rivers in the karst area.
The former wastewater from the hotel and agricultural activities
in the vicinity of the lake were harmful. This led to an increase in
eutrophication in the lakes (increased concentration of organic
matter in the water). For the future formation of tufa, it is
necessary to protect this extremely sensitive area from the harmful
effects of man. Since 2006, swimming in lakes has been strictly
forbidden. Previously, swimming on Lake Kozjak was allowed.
Forests and other flora
As early as 1883, the forest belt
surrounding the lakes and springs was declared a separate zone,
where logging was prohibited. About 2/3 of the Park is covered with
forest. They are part of the National Ecological Network and the
European project for the protection of natural heritage NATURA 2000.
Forests and water are interconnected and cannot survive without
each other. The forest retains, stores and purifies large amounts of
water. In the Park area there is a large area of high quality
forests, including rainforests, which are a top habitat for
wildlife. The forests of Plitvice Lakes are home to three large
European carnivores: the brown bear, the wolf and the lynx. Numerous
species of woodpeckers and forest owls testify to the high quality
and naturalness of the habitat.
The most common tree species
is beech, which grows in forest communities of mountain beech forest
with dead nettle (Lamio orvale-Fagetum) and beech with white sedge
(Carici albae-Fagetum). The next most numerous species is the fir,
which grows in the Dinaric beech-fir forests (Omphalodo-Fagetum).
Both species are sciophytes, and can grow in shady habitats. Forest
communities of spruce with corn on dolomite (Helleborus
niger-Piceetum) and forest communities of white pine with corn on
dolomite (Helleborus niger-Pinetum sylvestris) also appear. In the
lake zone and in the Korana canyon, a forest community of black
hornbeam with autumn sedge (Seslerio autumnalis-Ostryetum) grows.
Other significant species of forest trees are: hornbeam, black alder
and black pine.
As many as 1267 different plant species have
been registered in the Park, of which as many as 50 species of
orchids.
The forest is an integral part of the life of the
local population. Wood is used as a building material and for
firewood. In the past, some forests have been cleared and replaced
by meadows, grasslands and arable land, inadvertently contributing
to biodiversity. By reducing the population, part was abandoned and
the forest grew again. One of the values of the Park is the
fir-beech rainforest Čorkova uvala, declared a special reserve of
forest vegetation in 1965.
Among the rare plant species are:
yellow lady's foot (Cypripedium calceolus), one of the most
beautiful European orchids and one of the 55 species of orchids in
the Park, then the species Gentiana pneumonanthe, Ligularia sibirica
and Spiraea cana.
Of the fungi, the saprophytic fungus
Camarops tubulin stands out, which lives on rotten trees in the
rainforest of Čorkova uvala. It is found only in Croatia, and has
been found in only a few European countries as an endangered and
protected species.
The animal world
In the area of the
Park there is a great biodiversity and many different habitats for
animals: lakes, forests, grasslands, rocks, caves and others.
The most attractive part of Plitvice Lakes are waterfalls and
travertine barriers. It is also a special habitat, where mosses and
a diverse microscopic world grow: algae, bacteria, insect larvae and
the like. They also participate in the formation of travertine
barriers.
Forests are a habitat for many wildlife. The leaf
layer is one of the richest microhabitats for wildlife on a global
scale. It is home to lizards, insects, various fungi and bacteria.
An interesting endemic insect is Molops plitvicensis, which lives in
birch forests only on Plitvice. 321 species of butterflies, 157
species of birds, and 20 species of bats have been registered in the
Park.
In the Park area, a black salamander (Salamandra atra)
was found, a very rare species that lives in the Alps above 1200 m
and can very rarely be found at altitudes below 1000 m. In the area
of Plitvice there is a stable population of broad-eared bats
(Barbastella barbastellus), which is very sensitive to disturbances
and lack of food. The little hawk (Glaucidium passerinum) is the
smallest European hawk, living in coniferous and mixed forests in
the Park area.
The gray falcon (Falco peregrinus), one of the
fastest birds in the world, nests on the rocks in the Korana canyon.
While catching prey, it can reach speeds of up to 230 km / h. It can
be found on all continents except Antarctica.
Waters make up only 1% of the national park, but they represent
one of its most interesting parts. Dragonflies and mosquitoes breed
in the water. There are about 35 species of dragonflies, which is a
quarter of all European species of dragonflies. The water on
Plitvice is rich in limestone and oxygen, so trout and crabs can
also be found. They can also find species, which are very demanding
of ecological conditions such as otters. She is a nocturnal animal
and lives alone so she is rarely seen.
The caves on Plitvice
are a karst habitat, with a stable temperature, high humidity and
complete darkness. Cave animals adapted to such living conditions as
bats live here. A new species of insect Machaerites udrzali was
found in Rodić's cave, which is endemic and has not been found
anywhere else in the world.
Three species of blue butterflies
of the genus Maculinea can be found in the meadows, which are among
the most endangered butterflies in Europe: marsh blue (Phengaris
alcon), Great Thyme (Phengaris arion) and mountain blue (Phengaris
rebeli). The mower bird lives on wet grasslands, pastures and
meadows. It nests in meadows on Homoljac and Brezovac.
History
Plitvice Lakes have been exposed to human influence
throughout history. They do not represent an abandoned or lonely
nature reserve. They are located along an important traffic route,
they are a meeting place of various cultural influences.
Early history and the Middle AgesPeople have inhabited the Plitvice
Lakes area for thousands of years. There were: Illyrians, Thracians,
Celts, Japods, Romans, Avars, Slavs and Turks. During the reign of
Julius Caesar, Plitvice Lakes were part of the province of Illyricum
in the Roman Empire. Later, after the fall of the Romans, the
Ostrogoths and Avars settled.
In the 7th century, Croats
settled permanently in this area. In the Middle Ages, Mongol attacks
were frequent. The lakes were part of the medieval Croatian
kingdoms, until Croatia entered into a personal union with Hungary
in 1102.
Good management of the noble families of the
Zrinskis and Frankopans led to economic recovery in the wider area.
A monastery on the Plitvice Lakes was built on the remains of the
ancient settlement of Japod and the Romans. It probably belonged to
the Paulines or Templars. Today, only the remains of the walls
remain. The foundations were of travertine rock.
Ottoman Wars
and the Habsburgs
In 1493, not far from Plitvice Lakes, an
important battle took place on the Krbavsko field in which the
Bosnian Sandžak-beg Hadum Jakub-pasha defeated the Croatian feudal
army under the command of Ban Emerik Derenčin. The Ottomans later
advanced far west into the depths of the territories of Croatia and
Hungary.
In 1527, the Croatian nobility elected Ferdinand I
king of Croatia at a council in Cetingrad. The Croatian nobility was
mostly guided by practical reasons when choosing. Namely, he
expected that Ferdinand would defend Croatia, then severely
endangered by the Turks. In 1538, King Ferdinand I ordered the
establishment of the Croatian Military Frontier on the border of the
Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire. This affected the lives of
the local people.
In addition to the local Croats, members of
other nations also moved to the area of the Military Frontier to
take part in military service. Among them, the most numerous were
Serbs, who fled from the Turks and were given refuge in abandoned
areas in exchange for military service. The entire population of the
Military Frontier, especially the frontiersmen, had a duty to
protect this area from constant unrest and terrible destruction.
The Ottomans controlled the Plitvice Lakes area several times.
From 1788, Plitvice was under Habsburg rule and no longer fell into
Turkish hands. When the Ottoman threat weakened, the Military
Frontier returned under the civilian control of the Croatian ban.
In 1805, the area of Plitvice was under the rule of Napoleon,
who founded the Illyrian provinces. After 1814, the Plitvice Lakes
area returned to Habsburg rule. Since 1850, only professional
soldiers have served in the Military Frontier. It is also a time of
national awakening in Croatia. In 1871, the famous Croatian
politician Eugen Kvaternik died north of Plitvice Lakes in Rakovica.
The area was part of the Banovina of Croatia in the Kingdom of
Yugoslavia, and then part of the FR of Croatia within the SFRY.
Today it is part of the Republic of Croatia.
Bloody Easter
1991
Serbian rebels held a rally on March 25, 1991, with the aim of
making Plitvice Lakes part of the so-called SAO Krajina. A day
later, the management of the National Park was changed, and the
so-called flag. The SAO of Krajina appeared on the Koran bridge.
Fifteen armed Knin police officers broke into the administrative
building of the National Park, in order to implement the decision of
the Korenica municipal assembly to merge the so-called Krajina.
Several hundred members of the Rakitje MUP special unit,
commanded by Josip Lucić (later general of the corps and chief of
the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces), the Kumrovec MUP
special unit and the Lučko anti-terrorist unit set out for Plitvice
the night before Easter. In the early morning hours of March 31, on
the main route, a convoy of vehicles with Croatian special forces
was ambushed on the main road not far from Plitvice hotels and
ancillary facilities. The driver of the bus in which the members of
the anti-terrorist unit Lucko were, was Ljubo Cesic-Rojs. Although
the operation was a complete success after several hours of fighting
and order was restored in Plitvice and 29 rebels were arrested,
including Goran Hadzic, it will be remembered for the first Croatian
victim - Croatian policeman Josip Jovic (22) and seven members of
the special forces were killed. the police were wounded. A memorial
was erected at the place where Josip Jović was killed.
Tourism development
The first serious beginnings of tourism in
Plitvice Lakes date back to 1861. That year, the officers of the
Military Border built the first tourist house called the "imperial
house" on Velika Poljana with a capacity of only 3 rooms. In 1894,
Plitvice Lakes were visited by 1000 tourists and travelers. The
28-room hotel was built in 1896. In 1922 there were 250 rooms. The
development of tourism was greatly influenced by the construction of
the Lika railway in 1927. In 1937, there were 668 accommodations,
24,000 overnight stays of which 18,000 were domestic and 6,000
foreign tourists. The hotel burned down in 1938, and in the Second
World War it was destroyed and was built until then.
After
the Second World War, the hotel "Jezero" with 500 beds, the tourist
resort Medveđak, the restaurant "Lička kuća" with traditional dishes
and unique Lika architecture, the residential area Mukinje for staff
with a kindergarten and library were built. Roads were also built.
The state road from Zagreb to Split passes through Plitvice Lakes.
Gas and transmission lines were also built, pedestrian paths were
arranged, transport by smaller ships was introduced and further
scientific research was conducted. In 1971, there were about 1,000
beds in the National Park and about 200 near the park and a
campground with about 15,500 accommodations in tents. The
declaration of Plitvice Lakes as a world heritage site under the
protection of UNESCO in 1979 continued the accelerated development
of tourism in the national park itself, which reached its peak in
the pre-war years. During the Homeland War, the area of Plitvice
Lakes was occupied, and did not record any tourist results. It was
only after Operation Storm and the liberation of Plitvice Lakes that
they again experienced a real rise in the number of visitors, which
reached pre-war figures over several years.