Located only 15km from the Adriatic Sea, Risnjak National Park is in the western region of Gorski Kotar, an area of dense forestry and the most mountainous in Croatia.  The combination of the Dinaric and Alpine regions, coupled with the meeting of coastal and continental flora, give rise to an exceptionally diverse spectrum of plant life – around 4000 species – especially given the park’s relatively small area of 63.5 square kilometres. Predominantly composed, as with most of the Dinaric alps, by Dolomite and Sandstone rock, the area is rich in karst features like caves, cracks, sinkholes and rock falls, and is a popular hiking destination. The park is also home to bears, boars, deer, and wolves to name but a few mammals, as well as the ‘ris’ (Croatian for ‘lynx’) after which the park gets its name.

Mountain Peaks:
Veliki Risnjak (1528m)
Snjeznik (1506m)
Guslica (1490m)

Flora:
Alpine Rock Rose (Helianthemum alpestre)
Alpine Kidney Vetch (Anthyliis alpestris)
Alpine Yellow Violet (Viola biflora)
Alpine Snowbell (Soldanella alpina)
Black Vanilla Orchid (Nigritella nigra)
Common Esh (Fraxinus excelsior)
Edelweiss (Le-ontopodium alpinum)
Elm (Ulmus glabra)
False Aster (Aster bellidiastrum)
Gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea)
Globe Flower (Trollius europaeus)
Hairy Alpine Rose (Rhododendron hirsutum)
Livelong Saxifrage (Saxifraga aizoon)
Martagon Lily (Lilium martagon)
Mountain Avens (Dryas octopetala)
Mountain Milfoil (Achillea clavenae)
Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)

Fauna:
Badger (Meles meles)
Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra)
Deer (Cervus elaphus)
Door-mouse (Glis glis)
Fox (Vulpes wipes)
Lynx (Lynx lynx)
Pine Marten (Martes martes)
Roe-deer (Capreolus capreolus)
Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Stone Marten (Martes foina)
Wild Boar (Sus scofa)
Weasel (Mustela nivalis)
Wolf (Canis lupus)

Capercaille (Tetrao urogallus)
Grouse (Tetrastos bonasia)
Owl (Bubo bubo)
Sparrow-hawk (Accipiternisus)

Common Ader (Vipera berus)
European Cat-snake (Telescopus fallax)
Horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes)