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The Plitvice Lakes: World's Natural Heritage

Lakes and waterfalls are particularities of Plitvice Lakes. The beauty and symbolism of waterfall relates to a human voice and its strength in singing. Honoring one of the best Croatian opera singers, the waterfall between the lakes of Milan and Gavan had been given the name of Milka Trnina (1863-1911). Travertine is the soul of Plitvice Lakes making them a fragile structural complex. The barriers are very sensitive to draining, any change of water chemical contents as well as to physical damaging. Wooden bridges and paths above travertine barriers make sure that endangerment of travertine formations is avoided. However, during the Homeland War (1991-1998) the presence and the behaviour of occupational army was a serious threat to the lakes' existence. First information on flora and vegetation of Plitvice Lakes date back to the beginning of the 19th century, but systematic researches started some 50 years later. Very interesting and valuable are grassland surfaces, which can be dry and damp, and peatbogs as rare and endangered habitats in Croatia today. The virgin forest of beech and fir trees in Čorkova uvala (Čorak basin) is unusual to the forest ecosystem. Some rare and endangered bird species such as capercaillie and pygmy owl nest in mixed forests. As water habitats, lakes are not as rich in species as they have small surfaces (up to 200 hectares). However, there are mallard, great-crested grebe, dipper, little grebe, common kingfisher, common sandpiper, moorhen, coot and grey wagtail. It is possible to find other water-related bird species during autumn and winter such as white tailed Eagle, heron, red-breasted merganser, black-throated diver, pochard, golden-eye, and cormorant. Over 700.000 people visit Plitvice Lakes every year. There are seven electric boats for lake cruises, and five trains for forest railroads. The need to enhance economy through Croatian tourism-related potentials may at times directly be in collision with the need to preserve nature. Both economists and naturalists have equally experienced that. Even though no objections can be made to the logic trying to bring as many visitors as possible to an interesting place, that is, the buyers of pleasure of a particular atmosphere, it is clear that an enormous traffic may directly endanger the existence of what makes a place attractive. Then disappear both the phenomenon and its descendents. That is the reason why the Plitvice Lakes more than ever depend on fine art of keeping balance between wishes and possibilities.

National park; Plitvice lakes; waterfall; birds; flora; fauna; Čorak basin; Croatia

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