Surreal Beauty of Plitvice Lakes
This is CROATIA - A Local Girl's Guide To Mediterranean Paradise ~ Post #4
You know how some places stay with you forever?
No matter how long ago it's been, the visceral experience of being there stays imprinted in your mind as if you were just there moments ago?
You can "see" yourself in the middle of it, even if your eyes are open.
You can hear it's sounds, even when you're surrounded by noise.
And the smell of someplace similar teleports you right back in a second.
Well, I've only been to Plitvice Lakes National Park once, but I can still remember every detail. Wouldn't you?
Believe it or not, it's even more spectacular seeing it first-hand, compared to the pictures! In fact, that whole place is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here's why...
This is Tufa.
I know, sounds weird... what it is, is "a hollow, porous rock created from the deposition of dissolved calcium carbonate in the water by plants, algae, and mosses."
Basically, some 6000 years ago, there was a lake here, and then tufa started to grow in the water. In time it created barriers and water started to accumulate - creating lakes.
Since tufa is porous and takes a long time to grow, kind of like the dripstone caves, there were places in between where water found it's way through. That's how waterfalls were created.
The bigger the barrier tufa makes, the more water fills up the lake, and eventually transformed itself into a huge waterfall.
Now here's the wild part...
This proces is still going on, so Plitvice lakes are alive and spreading!
Incredible, right?
Also, notice how the water in the pictures ranges from light, almost transparent blue, to deep green?
Yeah, those are not pic filters 😉
Lakes continuously change color, because of the algae, moss and all kinds of microscopic organisms.
If it weren't for those, chances are all this clean water could be just a stincking swamp instead.
Image Source
There are 16 lakes at Plitvice Lakes Natural Park, and they are all connected to each other.
What a place to connect to nature!
So, tell me in the comments what's your favourite place to connect to nature?
Have you ever been to a place that was so impressive you never forgot about it?
How about Plitvice Lakes, have you ever been?
What else would you like to like to know about Croatia???
Here are some other posts from This is CROATIA series, in case you missed it:
Farmer's Markets
Springtime
Beach game
Nice one
thank you @princluv!
The images are gorgeous!! The cascades and blue water! So wonderful.. I like to travel to exotic places or tropical beaches to connect with Nature :)
Thanks for the comment @julimattos 😌
Would you believe it if I told you it's even more beautiful in person? The colors are intense, but calming at the same time.
Oh.. tropical beaches, warm sand, palm trees, azure ocean and some coconuts to nibble on... yes, please!
What a wonderful world we live in...
I bet it must be gorgeous in person! More than in photos... I love calming <3
oooh yesssss!! Take me there right NOWWW hah love it! :) We indeed live in a wonderful world!
What a beautiful place!
I can connect with nature in my yard, I love watching the clouds drift by, the sunset, and listening to birds chirp,
Memorable place is Alaska.
I have never been to Plitvice Lakes.
Hey @emergehealthier!
It's such a blessing to have a yard or at least a little bit of nature close to home, isn't it?
I love watching the clouds too, so amazed by them. All that water up there, forming a big white puffy mass, just floating slowly on a breeze, like it's no big deal LOL. If that's not a miracle, I don't know what is 😃
Alaska!!! Wow, that's a beautiful place. I imagine lots of snow, green woods, fresh cold air, and flocks of birds. Bet you had a wonderful time there.
I love my yard and the trip to Alaska. We took a cruise from Settle. The scenery was amazing. I should go through my photos and write about our adventure. The background of my thumbnail for the Today is series is from a photo I took from the ship.
You should write about it, @emergehealthier!
There must be Alaska day somewhere on the calendar, right?
I will probably write it as a photo essay, like many of your posts. Otherwise, it will have to wait until January 3rd, the day Alaska became a state.
The water falls through the porous rocks look lovely.
It does!
Thanks for reading, @blog-beginner!
I remember going there, now I have seen the photos. A few years ago mind, 1998 I think.
I have to go back to Croatia one day. It is so beautiful. Plitvice Lakes definitely on the list, with Dubrovnik and Mljet.
Hey, @hopehuggs!
Happy this brought back some lovely memories for you 😎
Hope you'll travel to all the gorgeous places on your wish list!
Now I want to visit Croatia. Lol, where is that on the map? Never been good with geography 😅.
1minute later! Nevermind, long live Google maps 😁. It's only Hungary between me and those unreal lakes. I know where I am going this summer 😃!
Hey @laurentiu.negrea,
thanks for stopping by!
I second that: "long live Google maps 😁" So, you're in Slovakia, right?
Just a heads up: Plitvice lakes are crowded in the summer. But, then again, if you find yourself there in the summer, just continue a bit more to the south - Croatian sea is surreal!!! That's where you should be in the summertime. Just saying 😉
That sounds like real fun, but nope! I am in Romania 😎.
Oh. My first association with Romania is always Luminita I love her blog.
It might, however, be a girl thing 😂😜