Plitvice Lakes are located in a Croatian National Park a couple hours drive south of Zagreb. This is where the first shots of the Croatian Homeland War were fired in March, 1991. The lakes have been forming over the last several thousand years by the deposition of calcium carbonate to create so-called tufa barriers or dams. The result is a series of 16 lakes with waterfalls of various sized in between them.
jezero (jez’-er-o)= lake
In this cross-section, the tufa barriers are shown in white.
This give a sense of the Plitvice cascading lake system. Much of the trail system is a boardwalk that goes back and forth across the canyon, which you can see in the middle of the picture.
Falls and boardwalk. One of the advantages of traveling in winter is that there aren’t many tourists. I’ve been told that, in the summer, there are 2 lines of people, one going in each direction..and you dare not stop.
Falls going over one of the bigger tufa barriers.
You have 3 options for getting around. You can hike, take a boat, or take a bus. The boat and bus only allow access to some of the park. The downside of a winter visit to Plitvice is that the upstream half of the park is closed, even to hikers.
Heading down Jezero Kozjak, the longest lake in the park.
Frozen waterfall.
Closed trail.
I have always wanted to take a picture of an alpine lake when the surface is flat calm- check!
We got off the boat and started our hike down the canyon.
Jezero Milanovac.
Falls along the way.
Boardwalk trail.
Limestone caves.
Entrance to a limestone cavern.
Yes, the water really is that color.
It doesn’t appear that everyone made it back from their boat ride.
Before you leave the canyon you have to go see the cleverly named Veliki Slap (in English, Big Waterfalls). That’s about 230 feet to the top.
There’s another 60 feet of Veliki Slap below and a view down the canyon.
Trail switchbacks up the top for the every-vista-is better-than-the-last trail.
The view from the higher trail.
Just couldn’t stop taking pictures.
The bottom of Veliki Slap.
Just can’t get enough.
Small falls and board walk. The bottom of the”Y” goes to the caves shown above.
John and Susan's Excellent Adventure 