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Plitvička Jezera
is
16 interlinked lakes between Mala Kapela Mountain and Pljesevica
Mountain in the region of Lika. The lake system is divided into
the upper lakes (Proscansko Lake, Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Batinovac,
Veliko Jezero = Big Lake, Malo Jezero = Small Lake, Vir, Galovac,
Milino Lake, Jezerce, Burgetiand Kozjak) and the lower lakes
(Milinovac, Gavanovac, Kaluderovacand Novakovica Brod). The
highest of them is Proscansko Lake (639 m) and the lowest
Novakovica Brod (503 m). The upper lakes, surrounded by thick
forests and interlinked by numerous waterfalls, lie in a dolomite
valley, while the lower lakes, smaller and shallower, surrounded
only by sparse underbrush, lie on the limestone bedrock. Due to
their natural beauty and significance, the Plitvice Lakes and a
large forest complex around it were set aside as a national park
in 1949. The national park comprises an area of 295 sq km, while
the Lakes account for about 2 sq km of the total area. Plitvice
Lakes National Park is divided into a broad and a narrow
protection zone, which defines the level of protection. Some
traditional occupations, such as grazing on certain pastures and
forest management according to stringent regulations are permitted
in the broad protection zone, however, excluding any deliberate
modification or utilization of natural resources. In the narrow
protection zone only protective measures are permitted. |
