Croatian nature parks

BIOKOVO

, a mountain along the central part of the Dalmatian coast. In the north-west, the Dupci Pass (288 m) separates Biokovo from the Omis part of Dinara Mountain; in the south-east, a steep limestone mountain range continues all the way to Bacina, i.e. to the area around the Neretva mouth (36 km long, up to 9.5 km wide). Biokovo descends toward the sea in very steep and bare limestone rocks, under which is a narrow and green littoral belt. Major peaks include: Sv. Ilija (St. Elias) (1,640 m), Sibenik (1,314 m), Stropac (1,145 m), Vrsac (1,411 m), Sinjal (1,333 m). Only a couple of trails for people and animals lead along limestone cliffs. Sparse forests, barren karst valleys and scanty pastures offer rather limited resources.
Source: Croatian national tourist board

 

KOPACKI RIT

(Kopački Tršćak), a nature park not far from the confluence of the Drava and the Danube, situated at the very border, is one of the most important, largest and most attractive preserved intact wetlands in Europe. It comprises many backwaters and ponds along the Danube. The vicinity of a big city of Osijek and its surroundings as well as excellent traffic communications (by road, railway, plane, ship) enable a high visiting rate. The beauty of "intact" nature, multitude of waters, flora and fauna attract not only excursionists and visitors but also many experts and scientists from the whole Europe. A part of Kopački Rit has been designated as a special zoological reserve.
Source: Croatian national tourist board

LONJSKO POLJE

, a part of the flood plain between the Sava river and Moslavacka Gora Mountain, partly along the Lonja river; a retention basin for the Sava waters. Lonjsko Polje Nature Park comprises an area of 506.50 sq km. It is famous for a variety of flora and fauna. Very interesting is also the architecture of a great large number of well preserved Posavina-style wooden houses, which are a true monument of archi-tectural heritage. Some areas of the Nature Park (ornithological reserves Rakita and Draziblato) are even under a stricter regime of nature conservation.
Source: Croatian national tourist board

MEDVEDNICA

(Zagrebačka Gora), a mountain in the immediate vicinity of the northern part of Zagreb; the highest peak Sljeme (1,032 m). It stretches in the southwest-northeast direction in the total length of 42 km; area about 240 sq km. It is formed of green slate. Lower parts are covered with Mesozoic and Tertiary layers. Veternica Cave is located in the south-western part. The mountain is forested (common oak, sessile oak, beech, fir). The road Zagreb - Stubičke Toplice runs through the central part, while the road Kasina - Laz - Marija Bistrica leads through the eastern part. Medvednica was populated in the prehistoric times (Veternica Cave). The first mention of it is found in the records from 1209; Mons Ursi (lat. Bear's Mountain).
Source: Croatian national tourist board

ŽUMBERAK

, a hilly region (around 300 sq km) in southern Prigorje (lower slopes) of the Žumberak range. Named after the old burg of Zumberak (burnt down in 1793; ruins above the village of the same name). Typical karst relief (sinkholes, caves, abysses, underground streams) with forests of beech and chestnut. Chief occupations are farming, viticulture and livestock breeding. Villages of a scattered type with compact hamlets, the largest being those along the main roads (Budinja, Stojdraga, Gornja Vas, Ostrc, Sošice, etc.). The majority of the settlements lie above 400 m. The region used to be inhabited in the pre-historic (Budinjak, a habitation and necropolis from the Early Iron Age, Kalje) and Roman per-iod (Gornja Vas).
Source: Croatian national tourist board

PAPUK

, a mountain in the region of Slavonia, on the northern and north-western border of the PozeskaValley in Slavonia; the highest peak Papuk (954 m). Springs and sources of many water bodies (the Čađavica, the Karasica, the Pakra). Forest vegetation (oak, beech). Vineyards on the southern slopes of the foothills. The road Cacinci Velika Pozega leads over the Perivoj peak (725 m).
Thanks to the Vocin nobleman Josip Janković, the central part of Papuk was arranged in the first half of the 19th century, especially Jankovac. Mountaineering societies were also founded, the first one in 1895 in Jankovac (one of the oldest in Croatia) and in 1932 also in Daruvar and elsewhere. This marked the beginning of organized hiking tours on the biggest Slavonian mountain, Papuk.
Source: Croatian national tourist board
 

TELAŠĆICA

, a large cove in the extreme south of the island Dugi Otok; around 10 km long and between 160 and 1,800 m wide, with several expansions with sandy and mud bottoms; the depth in the inner part attains 12 m, and in the outer part reaches up to 60 m. The eastern coast comprises the inlets Cuska, Dumboka, Ošćenica, Gozdenja, Rakvić, Kraševica and Mangrovica, while the coves Strizna, Tripuljak, Mir, Jaz and Pasjak are in the west. The western expansion comprises the small islands Donji and Gornji Skolj, the central part the islet of Farfarikulac, and the cliffs Gozdenja, Galijola and the small island of Korotan are in the eastern part which reaches the islands of Velika Aba and Katina.
Source: Croatian national tourist board

 

UČKA

,a mountain in the eastern part of Istria; it stretches in the total length of 20 km from the Poklon pass (road Rijeka - Pazin leads over it) to the Plomin Bay. It has an aspect of a prominent sheer rock, with peaks descending toward the south: Plas (1,285 m), the highest peak Vojak (1,401 m), Suhi Vrh (1,333 m), Brgud (907 m), Kremenjak (827 m) and Sisol (835 m). Both slopes abound in water sources; some of them are capped for the purpose of waterworks, while the other form water streams, rather powerful in winter months (Banina, Medveja). The slopes feature several canyon and transverse valleys (Vela Draga) and there are many -other karst formations (sinkholes, caves).
Source: Croatian national tourist board
 

VELEBIT

With its area of almost 2,000 km², the Velebit Nature Park is the largest protected area of Croatia, larger than all other protected areas taken together. Within the Park, there is a series of smaller protected areas, including two national parks: Northern Velebit and Paklenica, and the strict reserves of Hajdučki and Rožanski kukovi. On this magnificent mountain that in its diversity, unique relief and richness of plant and animal life is one of the most significant in Europe, there is a whole series of natural sights ranking among the highest values Croatia has to offer. Therefore, this whole 150 km long mountain is protected as UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, currently the only one in Croatia.
Source: Croatian national tourist board
 

VRANSKO JEZERO

(VRANSKO LAKE), a lake and cryptodepression in Ravni Kotari, northeast of Pakoštane; area 30.1 sq km (length 13.6 km, width up to 2.2 m, depth up to 3.9 m). The water, supplied by the Skorobic brook and sev-eral springs, flows beneath the ground and through the artificial canal Prosika (850 m) into the bay of Pirovac. The highest summits in Ravni Kotari (standarac, 305 m), offering a nice view on the hinterland and the coastal strip, rise along the north-eastern, forested shore of the lake. The lake is rich in fish (carps, mullets, eels, etc.). The area offers fine angling and wading birds hunting opportunities (egret, yellow egret, small white egret, cackling cuckoo, wild ducks and grebes).
Source: Croatian national tourist board