Plitvice National Park: The Land Before Time
Posted on 04. May, 2010 by Steph in Destinations, Europe, Photos
There are so many things I could say about Plitvice Lakes National Park, but none of them do it the justice that this pictures does:
Doesn’t it look like some sort of lost world? I half expected to see a dinosaur lumbering out of the bushes at any moment. In actuality, Plitvice is one of Croatia’s most popular tourist attractions. It’s a sort of wonderland of lakes and waterfalls, big and small.
The lakes are created by runoff from nearby mountains running through travertine rock, a kind of dissolvable limestone. There are 16 lakes total, although it’s difficult to tell where one ends and another begins. The water changes color from pool to pool and based on the sunlight, but all of it was eerily translucent the way only water that is completely untouched can be.
Pathways wind around, over and behind the waterfalls, allowing you to see the lakes from every possible angle. Water runs everywhere in an endless cascade. Even through the steps:
I visited Plitvice with some of my new Australian Party Cruise friends and we spent a full day wandering the trails, above water pathways and caves of the park. In mid-June the park was busy- mostly with local Croatian tourists and buses of Japanese travelers, but not annoyingly so. There was plenty of space to walk peacefully and enjoy the beauty of the park.
It won’t surprise you to know that Plitvice is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Somehow, despite being incredibly popular within the Balkans, it’s mostly unknown outside of the region. It’s one of my favorite places I’ve visited and I really can’t recommend it any more highly.
33 Responses to “Plitvice National Park: The Land Before Time”
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Miss G
04. May, 2010
Wow great pictures. I’ll definately add Plitvice into my Croatia trip this summer now! Thanks
.-= Miss G´s last blog ..WAG#20 The first time =-.
Steph
04. May, 2010
It’s definitely a must see if you are in Croatia!
Lisa @ The World is Calling
04. May, 2010
Knew I wanted to go already. Your pictures make me really, REALLY want to go. It is a Land Before Time wonderland. Thanks for sharing!
.-= Lisa @ The World is Calling´s last blog ..Travel Contest: The Blog Hop Is On! =-.
Candice
04. May, 2010
I’m not sure what has gotten me more excited, the picture, or The Land Before Time Reference. Hahaha.
.-= Candice´s last blog ..Guest Post: Don’t Eat the Spacecakes in Amsterdam =-.
Steph
04. May, 2010
but where’s littlefoot!?
Eli
04. May, 2010
Steph, those pictures are CRAZY! Especially that first one. It definitely has a Jurassic Park look going on.
.-= Eli´s last blog ..The Art of Constant Learning =-.
Steph
05. May, 2010
no dinosaurs spotted, but some frogs and a snake!
Cornelius Aesop
05. May, 2010
Now this looks like a monkey’s paradise!
.-= Cornelius Aesop´s last blog ..New Brew Tuesday: The Battle of the Modelos =-.
Steph
05. May, 2010
no swimming allowed though little guy.
Emily
05. May, 2010
Wow — those pics are insanely beautiful! It really does have a Land Before Time Feel. I definitely want to make it to Croatia sooner rather than later!
.-= Emily´s last blog ..Q&A With Irish Backpacker and Blogger Johnny Ward =-.
Steph
05. May, 2010
I want to go back- I feel like there is a lot I didn’t get to see!
ehalvey
05. May, 2010
Can I just move to Croatia?? And is Slovenia just as pretty? Those shots are gorgeous.
Sadly, that’s what the inside of Opryland Hotel looks like right now
.
Steph
05. May, 2010
Yup Slovenia is gorgeous too. I predict in a couple years the whole are will be a much bigger tourist draw.
Hope you’re keeping dry!
ehalvey
05. May, 2010
I want to see the “homeland’ of Slovenia so badly. And Croatia after my friend’s postcard from Selce.
Keeping dry here. But we’re on a tight water restriction so we’re all funky fresh. Nashvillest.com has some really good write ups about all the stuff going on.
.-= ehalvey´s last blog ..More Flood Stuff =-.
Melanie@TravelsWithTwo
05. May, 2010
Hoo-whee, Steph! Your photos are just what I needed today as I plan my October trip to Slovenia, Montenegro…and Croatia! My husband and I saw an amazing PBS documentary on Plitvice last year, and it was a done deal. Thank you for stoking the travel fire.
.-= Melanie@TravelsWithTwo´s last blog ..Jamaica: A Little Eco-Love in Negril =-.
Steph
05. May, 2010
fabulous! the whole region is so great, you will love it I’m sure!
Beautiful Places to Visit
05. May, 2010
The lakes are amazing! I recently did a feature post on Plitvice on my photo blog: http://beautifulplacestovisit.com/lakes/plitvice-lakes-national-park-croatia/
Keep up the awesome posts
- Ariel V
vagablonding.com
beautifulplacestovisit.com
.-= Beautiful Places to Visit´s last blog ..Crane Beach, Barbados =-.
Gray
06. May, 2010
Outstanding photos! You’re right, it does look like the Lost World.
.-= Gray´s last blog ..A Solo Traveler Does Family Travel =-.
Sheila
06. May, 2010
Gorgeous waterfalls and that clear blue water is calling my name.
.-= Sheila´s last blog ..Hawaii Vacation Deals & News: May 5, 2010 =-.
Steph
06. May, 2010
beautiful but they don’t let you swim in it! probably how they keep it so clear.
Verity
09. May, 2010
Wow… it looks absolutely amazing. I’ve never heard of it before and I am seriously wondering why. Talk about well-kept secret. I’m definitely adding it to my list of places I want to visit! I totally see what you mean about the dinosaurs. Jurassic Park eat your heart out
Steph
09. May, 2010
A lot of the Balkans is pretty unknown tourism wise. I suspect this won’t be the case for long…
Michael Tyson
04. Jul, 2010
Plitvice Lakes National Park has been on my list of things to see and do for a long time – this was a great reminder of why!
Thank you.
Michael
Traci
25. Aug, 2010
Those photos bring back great memories! I was there just a couple of years ago. Croatia is a gorgeous country – we flew into Zagreb and drove down the coast, stopping where we wanted and each place was more beautiful than the next. I loved the smaller towns most. Trogir was great with a nice balance of small-town vibe while still having plenty to see and do.
Steph
26. Aug, 2010
Croatia is a very cool place. I haven’t been to Trogir, which I guess is a good excuse to go back!
Shannon Elizabeth
16. Sep, 2010
Wow, wow, wow! Croatia is still on my list of places to see and this place looks absolutely incredible! The pictures are absolutely stunning!
Steph
17. Sep, 2010
It’s a really amazing place- Croatia is a must see!
drew
12. Jul, 2011
How much would it cost to build a house there!? The place looks epic! I’ll have to look into it further!!!!
Steph
12. Jul, 2011
Well, it’s a National Park, so I don’t think they’ll let you build a house there
Beautiful Croatia
10. Oct, 2011
@drew you wanna build a house there lol..as Steph wrote about thats a BIG NO NO..
.. I’ve been there a couple of years ago..and I’m planning to visit next year again..if it weren’t for other stuff I’d probably have gone there more than once by now.. I mean if you don’t have the finance to travel there pics are great..but anyone that can afford this..should pack their bags and travel to Croatia..cause even though I would like to explain describe the place..it’s a unique experience that just can’t be described..and if you’re in Croatia I would recommend visiting other National Parks as well…like Krka, Brijuni, Paklenica… I mean neither of them are too far away…considering the size of Croatia
John
04. Jan, 2012
Excellent photos. Did you know that there is actually another (albeit smaller) version of these lakes in the United States? Hanging Lake in Colorado (wikipedia here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Lake) is formed by the same travertine rock and has similar scenery. Check it out!
Steph
09. Jan, 2012
Very cool!
Steph
09. Jan, 2012
Very cool! That does look similar.