The Plitvice Lakes [and waterfalls] National Park is another of the region's many World Heritage Sites. Someday I hope to count up all the Unesco sites we have visited in these ten years...must be a couple hundred. Anyhow, the Plitvice Lakes, in Croatia, are sixteen lakes in the mountainous karst country, arranged in a sort of miles-long cascade, the falls often stunning, the colors of the waters, because of the limestone and the travertine--which forms dams and makes the waterfalls--breathtaking. The Croatian national park system has constructed a trail whereby you can walk some 9 km of the lakes and waterfalls (including a boat ride along the longest lake). We've seen some of the world's great waterfalls. Nothing could surpass Iguazu Falls in Argentina. But Plitvice is a solid second, affording a continuously impressive day hike, with comforts and amenities never too far apart.
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We spent the preceding night still in Bosnia-Hertzegovina, at a campground by the
Hotel Ada, itself on a beautiful river setting |
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Sadly, there was much fighting in this area, the original hotel destroyed, the
new one making a struggle to come back; a beautiful setting |
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| Now in Croatia, approaching Plitvice, a first glimpse of one of the falls |
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| Helpful map, showing the lakes, the falls, the trail... |
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Alas, over much of the wetlands areas, the trail consisted of these rough planks;
not as bad as it looks, but not good for people with balance and knee issues |
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| A calcifying tree...contributing to the travertine build-up |
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We found the trails well marked and easy to follow; you can
do the main trail either up or down...top to bottom is best,
saving the most dramatic sets of falls until last |
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| In the upland areas, more conventional trails |
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| Everything labeled... |
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| More falls, another lake |
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| Slippery when wet |
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| A pretty incredible place...here at a midway point |
