Velebit Nature Park
It's true that the main goal of most tourists heading to Croatia is the beautiful sea, but many of them come here also to soak up the natural beauty of this country that is found in the mountains as well. Real treasures and astonishing natural phenomena can be found in the national parks and nature parks, of which Croatia has several. One of the most beautiful is precisely Velebit Nature Park. It will take you into a world of silence, freshness and the scent of plants, along with raw, mountainous, romantic nature.
It is the youngest of Croatia's seven nature parks. It was granted this honourable title only in 1999. It lies in Northern Dalmatia, in the northern part of the Velebit mountain range.
Geography and landscape of the park
The main attraction of the park lies in the tangled forms of imposing stone cliffs and the natural wealth of the mountain region. Striking peaks and picturesque towers of rock formations, rock walls and a lush river basin emerge from the terrain, along with speleological sites. Velebit NP is above all home to strictly protected nature reserves: Hajdučki kukovi and Rožanski kukovi, the Štirovača forest vegetation reserve, and the botanical garden in Zavižan.
The park is bounded to the south by the Zrmanja river and to the north by the Vratnik stream. The park is about 140 km long and its width ranges from 30 to 40 km. Its terrain alternates between rock and forest. The climate here is relatively "gloomy" because of the strong and dangerous wind that often blows here, known as the bura. Its gusts reach up to 180 km/h, destroying any vegetation in their path. On top of that, this wind is very dry, which also does not favour the development of flora in this area.
Hiking and walking trails
Visitors to the park must be aware that it is not an easy one to explore. During your walks you should make sure to have good equipment, a responsible companion and, above all, to carefully check your hiking route. In some places you will be moving at an altitude of 1,500 m.
The best-known tourist route is the Premužić trail, which runs from north to south. The trail is well marked and is about 50 km long. The highest peak here is Vučjak, at 1,645 m. During your hikes you can admire the magnificent limestone formations (Rožanski kukovi) and rocks (Bačić kuk). It is also worth remembering that for 500 years, northern Velebit has been the natural home of the brown bear.
Natural riches and biosphere reserve
In 1978 this territory was included in the UNESCO network of biosphere reserves. It was announced at the time that more than 2,700 plant species grow here, of which 78 are endemic.
One of the park's most fascinating places is the Lukina jama cave, discovered in 1994. It is the deepest cave in Croatia and the ninth deepest in the world! It reaches a staggering 1,392 m in depth!
Churches and cultural heritage
On the other side of the Velebit mountains there are many churches of varying size and appearance. Most have a simple structure. In the past these buildings played an important role for the local clergy, and some are still in use today. The most frequently visited building is the chapel of St. Frane. This chapel was built by the Austrian emperor in 1932 on the road connecting the northern and southern sides of Croatia, divided by the Velebit mountains.
How to plan your visit
A visit to the park is especially recommended — because of its proximity — for those spending their holidays on the island of Pag, the island of Vir, or generally in the area around Zadar.
Velebit is the most attractive place for rock climbing in Croatia.
It's worth trying to spend your holiday in Croatia a little differently than usual and discover the beauty of nature parks and national parks. Velebit offers rich flora, fauna and unique natural phenomena that you will not see anywhere else. Besides relaxing and lounging on the beach, it's worth investing in the health of body and spirit and setting off on pleasant hikes and walks along the picturesque and one-of-a-kind Velebit Nature Park! This park still leaves many mysteries. Although since the 18th century whole generations of scholars, scientists and mountaineers have visited it, there remain many places untouched by the human foot. If you are the adventurer type – give it a try; perhaps it is you who will discover some new, unknown place in this magical land!