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Best Travel Quotes
Here is one of the best short travel quotes:
“If travelling was free, you’d never see me again.” ~ Unknown Author
And “If travelling was free” you would definitely see Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, Europe.
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Plitvice Lakes takes the number one spot for most mesmerizing natural beauty.
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Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Words fail to describe the beauty and harmony of the Plitvice Lakes. Created by Mother Earth, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the amazing natural phenomena of the world that gain international significance. Plitvice Lakes are UNESCO protected paradise in the heart of Europe, and they well deserve their spotlight.
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Plitvice Lakes is the oldest and largest national parks in the Republic of Croatia that was added to the UNESCO World Heritage register in 1979.
Each year, over 1 million people visit the place.
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Plitvice Lakes
A chain of 16 turquoise-coloured cascading lakes was formed as a result of the gradual dissolution of soluble layers of bedrock. There are 12 upper lakes and 4 lower lakes. The two largest lakes in the Plitvice system are Prošćansko and Kozjak. The lakes are connected to each other by a series of waterfalls, resembling a pearl, all embraced in a magic greenery of the forests and meadows. Over 90 waterfalls will take your breath away!
Ever changing water colours
The lakes are known for their fluctuating water colours that range from a bright emerald green to a deep blue, or a faded grey. The colours are never the same even during one day.
The caves of the Lower Lakes
For thousands of years, water has changed the limestone and thus the landscape of this area. The emerging travertine barriers decelerated and retained the flowing water. These dams are continuously growing in height. The caves of Plitvice Lakes have been inhabited since ancient times. Even the bones of an extinct Pleistocene Cave Bears have been found inside the caves.
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The Lower Lakes canyon area also includes the limestone caves where the temperature of about 10.5°C all year round. The microclimate is only suitable for specially adapted cave fauna.
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The Plitvice Lakes legends
The area’s stunning beauty has inspired many mysterious stories, like the legend of the Black Queen and the mysterious Gavanovo Treasure.
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Legend of the Black Queen
The largest upper lake, Prošćansko Lake, is connected to the ‘Legend of the Black Queen’. The origin story of the Plitvice Lakes involves a mysterious lady. The legend tells about a period of drought in the region. Local people called upon the magic queen to help them, to which she responded by creating the Plitvice lakes.
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The Lower Lakes and the Legend of the Gavanovo Treasure
The Lower Lakes are inside a porous limestone canyon. There is an accessible boardwalk between Gavanovac and Kaluđerovac lakes, from which you can see lots of fish swimming around in the super-clear water. Gavanovac Lake takes its name from the Gavanovo treasure, which is allegedly still hiding somewhere in the lake.
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The Legend of the Wise Monk
According to the legend, the monk lived in the cave and people used to come to the Plitvice lakes and visit the monk to ask for advice.
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Even “If travelling was NOT free” you have to include visiting Plitvice Lakes in your bucket list
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