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?

Source

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.

Image Source

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!

Image Source

---

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