Krka National Park is a phenomenon of the nature, which deservers for a much longer stay than we planned. We didn’t spend much time there, but maybe it’s all right, because due to this fact, we have the reason to come back into this beautiful regions and stay there for two weeks at least. In no way this would be too much, since the place abounds in numerous attractions within its entire length.

    The Park has a National status since 1985, it is the seventh National Park in Croatia and it covers an area of 109 km2 stretching along Krka River. The river has its springs at the foot of Dinara near to Knin. We didn’t get there, however we were passing nearby, while driving towards Dubrovnik. Krka is 72 km long. Accordingly to the info table, an overall area of its basin covers about 2,088 km². An average pace of the current on the Skradinski waterfall amounts to 55 m³/s, whereas the heavy precipitations may increase its pace even to 350 m³/km. Generally, the whole river is dotted with the waterfalls among which the biggest are: Bilusica buk (22,4 m), Corica buk or Brljan (15,5 m), Manojlovacki (waterfalls’ sequence of 59,6 m height with the main cascade, which is 32 m high), Rosnjak (8,4 m), Miljacka Waterfall (23,8 m), Roskl Waterfall (25,5 m) and Skradinski buk (17 cascades of overall height of 45,7 m) with an overall inclination of 242 m. These waterfalls are impressive, in their presence you can hardly hear your own thoughts, or have a pleasant conversation, because the noise of the falling water drowns out everything, which absolutely doesn’t diminish their majesty and beauty.

    It is worth to mention, that within the area of Krka National Park about 860 species and sub-species were described, and the experts are able to separate from this numerous group many typical Adriatic species. There are 18 fishes species living in Krka River, among which 10 are very rare, due to which fact the river gained the status of the Natural monument of the highest class in the European scale. Moreover, we need to mention about an incredible variety of birds, that nest there, which may be not only seen but also heard – reportedly, the area of the park is qualified as one of the most valuable ornithological regions within the whole Europe.

    Generally, while visiting the park, we should follow the marked trails, therefore we would not reach many special places without the guide. Numerous lime caves and faults may make your body shiver. They are the places, where the bats made their hideouts. Among their numerous population, there are 18 species living in this part of world, which are under the threat of extinction. The tourist traffic is so intensified during the season, that numerous bans and limits are justified. It is important to act cautiously and in accordance to advice of guides and instructions. In Krka, differently from Plitvice Lakes, tourists may swim, but exclusively in the designated areas – usually there should be a lifeguard around. Flowing for the thousands of years, the river has grooved the caves and chambers in its bed, where people may easily lost their lives due to the tricky whirls. People like to threaten others with warnings of such type, but in fact here are great number of people who drowned in this paradisiacal depth, and the statistics give the evidence of this fact.

    Traversing the valley of the river, tourists may come across the interesting traits of archeological stations as well as numerous historical and cultural monuments. The oldest traits, that give an evidence of human presence in this area are the archeological finds of Paleolithic period: Neolithic ceramics, flinty knives and fragments of embers and bones. They are presented in the marked archeological points. Along the right bank of Krka, between Skradin town (heritage park) and Skradin Waterfall, there are relicts of the antic waterworks of Roman Scradona situated. Within the Park area, there are also remains of several medieval old-Croatian fortresses of the 14th century located: Trosenj-grad, Necven-grad, Bogocin-grad and Kljucica.

How to visit the Krka National Park best? There are 3 options: on the water, land or foot.

    There are the water trails prepared, which allow for visiting of the Skradinski Waterfall from Skradin, Visovac island, as well as the Roski Waterfall from the harbor situated directly above the Skradinski Waterfall. For organized groups there are a panoramic tours available, into the estuary of the Nicola River. Tourists may visit the Park with their cars, using all public roads, which are marked on the maps, but simultaneously are not situated within areas, which tourists may enter only with the approval of the Park’s administrators. The footpaths are marked clearly and are prepared for tourists, at least in the major and the most important areas of the Park.

    This part of Croatia is an accumulation of emotions and beauty of surrounding nature. Even a short while of experiences, which come from this place may not be underestimated. The colors of water sparkling with the azure and shades of sapphire and additionally abundant in shoals of various fishes, numerous streams, channels or noise of the falling water cause, that we have to accept the fact, that we would be back here again, because it cannot be forgotten.