The National Park Plitvice lakes was declared a national park in 1949 and it is one of the oldest and largest national parks in Croatia as well as under the rotection of UNESCO since 1979.
It is located in between Male Kapele and Pljesevice in Lika. Plitvice lakes are a unique natural phenomenon- 16 picturesques lakes which are connected by a number of cascading waterfalls. These lakes are divided on the upper (12) and the lower (4) lakes. The highest lake is Proscansko at 639m and the lowest is Novakovica Brod at 503m. The Upper lakes are surrounded by lush woods and connected to one another by a number of waterfalls, the lower lakes are smaller, shallower and surrounded by lesser vegetation. The lake water, after the Sastavci falls in the lower lakes, pours into the River Korana which the Plitvice stream also flows into, falling from a height of 76m.
The climate is mountainous and the best time to visit the Park is in the summer months, although the winter months are provide the magnificent picture of frozen waterfalls. The largest lake is Kozjak and the water temperature is 24 degrees during the summer. Plitvicka lakes are rich in fish and crab, fishing is possible only in certain spots along with a special license.
The administration of the National Park Plitvicka Jezera cares to preserve this unique natural phenomenon: entrance into the park is at two locations, cars are left on the parking lot and a special electric train is used for travelling throughout the park. In order to preserve nature, special electric boats are used along the lakes.
Visitors can enjoy excellent service in many of the National Park's restaurtants. As for accomodation, guests can find apartments, rooms, or hotels in the surrounding towns: Gospic, Otocac, Licko Lesce, Poljanak, Smoljanac, Grabovac, Dreznik Grad and Rakovica. Several apartments and rooms are located in family homes surrounded by nature and forests causing more and more households to turn towards rural tourism.
As for fishing fans, Gacko Polje and the River Gacka are located near the National Park Plitvica. The River Gacka, with its lively flow, passes through the area of the city Otocac and is one of the most interesting and beautiful underground stream in Croatia.