engleski

Sustainable Utilization and Protection of Water Resources in N.P. Plitvice Lakes

National Park Plitvice Lakes has been placed in the central part of Croatia, in Dinaric karst region. It consists from 16 lakes separated with tufa barriers, originated from water activities throughout Quaternary period. Discharge area of the lakes is placed on the northern side of carbonate massif of Lika region and belongs to the Danube catchment area. From Plitvice Lakes rises the river of Korana. The altitude difference between discharge zone and the start of Korana River is about 150 m, but such high gradient is reduced by lakes and numerous beautiful waterfalls between lakes. Plitvice Lakes were nominated as the first National park in former state in 1949, and later in 1954 entered into the UNESCO list of World Natural Heritage. The area of National Park is typical karst with a high level of natural vulnerability on one side and a growing number of visitors (900.000 yearly) on the other. One of the most important problem of the N.P. is water resources protection, because only stabile water quality can ensure the sustainability of the entire eco-system. To solve this important problem N.P. Plitvice Lakes has started the international research project with the active participation of University of Zagreb – Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, Varaždin, Joanneum Research, Graz and Research Centre "Ivo Pevalek" through Centre of Competence, Graz co-financed by Austrian Government and N.P. as economic partner. The research project is divided in regional and detail part. Regional part is directed on the protection of National Park from the catchment effects and the impact of the National Park on karst environment downstream of the N.P. Detail part of the project is oriented on the protection of the lakes and waterfalls – the inside part of the N.P. overloaded by great number of visitors.

Hydrogeological research; Water dynamics; Water protection

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