Plitvice Lakes

16 terraced lakes connected by cascading waterfalls in Croatia/Natural Wonders

Plitvice Lakes National Park in central Croatia contains 16 terraced lakes interconnected by a series of waterfalls and cascades, all set within a dense beech and fir forest. The lakes are renowned for their distinctive turquoise, green, and blue colors, which change depending on mineral content and the angle of sunlight. The park covers 296.85 square kilometers and was among the first natural sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. The highest waterfall, Veliki Slap, drops 78 meters. Travertine barriers between the lakes grow at a rate of about 1 centimeter per year.