Krka National Park (Croatian: Nacionalni park Krka) is one of Croatia’s national parks, named after the Krka River (ancient Greek: Kyrikos), which flows through it. It is located along the middle and lower parts of the Krka River in central Dalmatia, within Šibenik-Knin county, near the Miljevci area downstream, and just a few kilometers northeast of the city of Šibenik. The park was created to protect the Krka River and is used mainly for scientific research, cultural preservation, education, recreation, and tourism. It is the seventh national park in Croatia and was officially declared a national park in 1985.

Geography

The Krka National Park is located entirely within Šibenik-Knin County and covers an area of 109 square kilometers along the Krka River. It includes the section of the river from two kilometers below Knin to Skradin and the lower part of the Čikola River. The park is a large area of land that has remained mostly unchanged and has many different types of natural value. It includes one or more ecosystems that are still natural or only slightly changed. The Krka Waterfalls area has more lavender plants per area than most places in Europe, which is why there are many wasps and bees in the region.

Environment

Krka National Park is located in the Southern European region, which includes the Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean areas. Because of its unique location and the variety of different habitats, the park has an unusually rich and diverse plant and animal life.

Scientists have identified 860 species and subspecies of plants in the park, including several that are found only in the Illyrian-Adriatic region. Some notable plants include the stone bellflower, chimney bellflower, mullein inula, Dalmatian pellitory, and Illirian iris, which grows on rocks. Other plants that are unique to this hot and dry environment include the wolfen spurge, Adriatic violet, musk thistle, thorny centaurium, strawberry spurge, and Bertolon's sage. In the wet areas near the Krka and Čikola rivers and in the Krka river valley, plants such as meadow squill, knotweed, European hornbeam, wood melick, and lady orchid grow.

Eighteen species of fish live in the Krka River, ten of which are found only in this area. This makes the Krka River one of the most important natural landmarks in Europe. Some fish found in the river include brown trout and Dalmatian barbelgudgeon.

Areas with reeds, lakes, and wet meadows along the river are home to many amphibians and birds. Thickets and stone quarries provide habitats for reptiles.

Krka National Park is home to 222 species of birds. The way these birds live together and the park’s importance for birds migrating in spring and autumn make it one of the most valuable places in Europe for bird life. Many birds of prey live here, including the osprey, short-toed eagle, golden eagle, Bonelli's eagle, lanner falcon, and peregrine falcon. Other notable birds include the Eurasian eagle-owl, European bee-eater, and griffon vulture.

Among mammals, 18 species of bats live in the park. These bats are often endangered or near extinction in other parts of Europe. Some examples include the long-fingered bat, Daubenton's bat, and the threatened European otter.

A ria is the place where a river flows into the sea, formed when the sea level rose after the last ice age. The Krka River’s ria extends to the base of Skradinski buk and is 23.5 kilometers long. This ria is special because it has no pollution and is very rich in life. It is home to many shellfish, freshwater fish, and saltwater fish.

Tourism

Krka National Park has many places that visitors can enjoy. Attractions and facilities include boardwalks, sightseeing tours, presentations, boat trips, souvenir shops, a museum, and restaurants. There are also ruins of old fortresses near the park that date back to Roman times. These ruins are called Čučevo, Nečven, Bogočin, Ključica, and Burnum.

Skradinski buk is one of the most popular areas in the park. It is a large, clear natural pool with high waterfalls at one end and smaller cascades at the other. It is the lowest of three waterfall groups along the Krka River. In an area that is 400 meters long and 100 meters wide, there are 17 waterfalls. The total height difference between the first and last waterfall is 47.7 meters. Because of its many types of land shapes, plants, and the way light reflects on the water, Skradinski buk is considered one of the most beautiful calcium carbonate waterfalls in Europe.

The amount of water flowing over Skradinski buk is 43 meters per second in winter and 18 meters per second in summer. On average, 55 cubic meters of water flow down the falls each second throughout the year. It is the largest travertine cascade system in Europe.

Roški Slap, near Miljevci, is the second most visited place in Krka National Park. It is the sixth waterfall along the Krka River. A walking trail and a hiking trail surround the area, offering great views. The site can be visited year-round. The easiest way to reach Roški Slap is by taking a tour boat operated by Krka National Park, though it can also be reached by road.

Inside the park is the island of Visovac, which was created during the rule of Louis I of Hungary in the 14th century. The island is home to the Roman Catholic Visovac Monastery, built by the Franciscans in 1445 near Miljevci village. The island can be visited by boat from Skradinski buk. The park also includes the Serbian Eastern Orthodox Monastery Krka, founded in 1345. This monastery is an important religious place for the Orthodox Dalmatian Diocese. It was first recorded in written documents in 1402 as a gift from Jelena Šubić, the sister of Serbian Emperor Dušan. The monastery was built and rebuilt until the late 18th century.