croatia

THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA • 2003
GENERAL INFORMATION
GENERAL INFORMATION
Risnjak National Park Risnjak National Park is located in Gorski Kotar, 15 km. from Delnice, on the
farthest western edge of the Dinaric Alps. It shares Delnice, »abar and Rijeka districts, with its administrative
seat in Crni Lug. The park spreads across 3014 ha at altitudes from 680 to 1528 meters. The higher elevations
of Risnjak, mainly limestone and dolomite, form a barrier between the drastically different coastal and continental
climates. Dense forests of beech, fir and spruce flourish on either side. Mainly of scientific importance,
Risnjak is also significant to Croatian tourism. Located only 15 km from the main road, connecting Zagreb and
Rijeka, Risnjak National Park is easily accessible and offers a view of Kvarner Bay.
Velebit National Park The northern area of Velebit is, from the point of view of nature, the most valuable
and attractive part of the Velebit mountain zone. It comprises strict nature reserves - Roæanski Kukovi and
HajduËki Kukovi - with interesting Karst forms and the Lukina Jama (Luka’s Pit), one of the deepest pits in the
world, as well as the renowned Velebit botanical gardens.
This is also our youngest national park. In May 1999, the House of Representatives of the Croatian Parliament
passed a law to declare Northern Velebit a National Park. Thus, an area within the Velebit Nature Park covering
109 km2 in total was proclaimed the Northern Velebit National Park.
The Velebit Nature Park can be divided into three parts: northern, central and southern. Northern Velebit
begins above Senj, at Vratnik Saddle (698 m in height), and ends at Veliki Alan Saddle (1412 m). Vratnik Saddle
separates Velebit from Velika Kapela.
The main feature of this part of Velebit is its almost triangular shape. The width is almost equal to its length.
It has several depressions (called dulibe by the Velebit locals), of which Lomska Duliba and Krasanska Duliba
have the particular importance that they were the sites of larger settlements which remain inhabited even
today, unlike many other settlements on Velebit which have been depopulated.
The highest peak of this part of Velebit is Mali Rajinac (1699 m). On the second highest peak, Zaviæan, a
weather station and mountaineer lodge are located.
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