National park Paklenica – A park to visit in Croatia!
What I would suggest to you is a cruise to Zadar and take a transfer to National park Paklenica.
It is a good idea to plan this trip either before the start of your cruise or at the end of the cruise so that it does not cut into your cruising hours time.
The name Paklenica probably derives from black pine sap called “paklina”, which the locals used in traditional medicine, for wound treatment, for light and for coating of wooden boats.
Paklenica National Park, one of the nature’s miracles, is characterized by sharp cliffs of the monumental canyons and is the home of ancient beech tree forests, mysterious caves, and endemic plant and wildlife species.
The Park, declared a bio-energy reserve by UNESCO in 1987, is a challenge to every nature lover – day tripper, hiker, alpinist, and adventurer. Another feature that makes it special is its closeness to sights such as the Plitvice Lakes National Park, River Krka Waterfalls, and Kornati Archipelago.
Paklenica National Park is located on the famous, 150 km long Velebit Mountain Range that stretches from Senj in the north east of Croatia to the Zrmanja River in the south near Zadar.
It covers the area of torrent flows of Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica, and their distinctive canyons carved vertically into the south slopes of Velebit and the broader surrounding area. The relatively small area has an abundance of geomorphological phenomena and forms, diverse flora and fauna, attractive landscapes and intact nature.
Velika Paklenica canyon is 14 km long and 500-800 m wide. In its narrowest part around the Bunkers, the canyon is only 50 m wide. Vertical cliffs rise above both sides of the canyon up to a height of over 700 m.
The most attractive part is the area around the steep drop of the stream downstream from Anića luka, where steep cliffs rise directly above the stream, forming the narrowest part of the canyon between Anića luka and the parking lot.
Mala Paklenica canyon is of lesser dimension, and the torrent running through it is much less powerful. It is 12 km long and 400-500 wide. In its narrowest part, it is only 10 m wide, while the surrounding cliffs rise up to a height of 650 m.
The pass between the Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica Canyons is formed by a very inaccessible karstic area comprising rocks and cliffs.
Rich and diverse flora and fauna (many endemic species, griffon vulture), many Karst phenomena (Manita peć), as well as rich sports offer (free climbing, trekking, picnic excursions to Forester”s cottage “Lugarnica”, a tour around the mill and learning about the principles of its functioning) attract more and more visitors.
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