Plitvice Lakes, with its sixteen pristine lakes connected by a series of waterfalls, is a stunning National Park home to a large and diverse number of animal and plant species. Its wide range of microclimates and soils give rise to various plant ecosystems, and there are close to 130 different species of birds, as well as rare fauna from Europe – bears, wolves, wild cats, and others besides. Located in the Kvarner area, it is easily accessible and open all year round, and visitors are able to take advantage of guided tours and numerous trails to walk or hike. The lakes themselves are separated into upper lakes and lower lakes, with the upper lakes lying in a basin of dolomite rock, whilst the lower lie in a limestone basin. The constantly changing colours of the lakes are their most distinctive feature, with shades of azure, green, grey of blue, depending on factors like mineral content and angle of sunlight.
Upper Lakes:
Batinovac
Buk
Ciginovac
Galovac
Gradinsko jezero
Kozjak
Malo jezero
Milinovo jezero
Okrugljak
Proscansko
Veliko jezero
Vir
Lower Lakes:
Gavanovac
Kaluderovac
Milanovac
Novakovica brod
Flora:
Alpine Scilla (Scilla litardierei)
Bladderwort (Urticularia minor)
Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris)
Frog-flower (Ranunculus scutatus)
Grassy Bells (Edraianthus tenuifolius)
Hawksbeard (Crepis conyzifolia)
Lady's Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus)
Oxeye Daisy (Telekia speciosa)
Sedge (Cladium mariscus)
Siberian Leopard Plant (Ligularia sibirica)
Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)
Fauna:
Adder (Vipera berus)
Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus)
Brown Trout (Salmo truta)
Chub (Leuciscus cephalus)
Diamond Water Snake (Natrix tesselata)
European Toad (Bufo bufo)
Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra)
Forest Frog (Rana dalmatina)
Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)
Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis)
Lizard (Lacerta vivipara)
Meadow Frog (Rana temporaris)
Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)
Mountain Newt (Triturus alpestris)
Newt (Triturus vulgaris)
Nose-horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes)
Pearl Roach (Scardinius erythropthalmus)
Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis)
River Crab (Astacus astacud)
Summer Salmon (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Tree Toad (Hyla arborea)
Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina variegate)