View Full Version : Plitvice Lakes - Croatia
falling rain
06-01-2005, 13:46
Yep I watched Tribe and thought it was excellent too. I also watched a programme about Plitvice Lakes - Croatia last night too which was also very good. BBC2 8pm Absolutely lovely scenery with waterfalls and wonderfull wildlife wolves, Herons, Eural Owls, Brown Bears, Turtles, Eagles etc. I WANT TO GO THERE NOW !! :aargh4: I wish I'd taped it as I could easily watch that many times over.
Yep I watched Tribe and thought it was excellent too. I also watched a programme about Plitvice Lakes - Croatia last night too which was also very good. BBC2 8pm Absolutely lovely scenery with waterfalls and wonderfull wildlife wolves, Herons, Eural Owls, Brown Bears, Turtles, Eagles etc. I WANT TO GO THERE NOW !! :aargh4: I wish I'd taped it as I could easily watch that many times over.
WHAT!!! I B****Y MISSED THAT ONE!!!
A fantastic place, great walking, beautiful scenery, beautiful snakes, been there 5? 6? times.
It had better be re-shown!!!
Yep I watched Tribe and thought it was excellent too. I also watched a programme about Plitvice Lakes - Croatia last night too which was also very good. BBC2 8pm Absolutely lovely scenery with waterfalls and wonderfull wildlife wolves, Herons, Eural Owls, Brown Bears, Turtles, Eagles etc. I WANT TO GO THERE NOW !! :aargh4: I wish I'd taped it as I could easily watch that many times over.
Yep, fantastic program, good to hear the wildlife is returning after the conflict in the region. As you said one of the best things was the amount of wildlife in the region, I believe that they even mentioned Martens in the area, it would be a good place to organise a trip.
The tracking there would be pretty good, but of course you would have to be bear aware as they could cause a few problems (sense of smell 100,000 times better than ours coupled with food preperation and storage could be a little awkward).
Liked the one to do with the polar bears in Churchill after it as well, although I think that this may be a repeat as I have seen something very similair before. :wave:
Yep, fantastic program, good to hear the wildlife is returning after the conflict in the region. As you said one of the best things was the amount of wildlife in the region, I believe that they even mentioned Martens in the area, it would be a good place to organise a trip.
The tracking there would be pretty good, but of course you would have to be bear aware as they could cause a few problems (sense of smell 100,000 times better than ours coupled with food preperation and storage could be a little awkward).
The Croatian marten or 'Kuna' is the name of the currency as they used to use the pelts as currency.
The bears are quite erm, 'regimented'. An old army pal was on patrol up that way and for a while they had a 7 man patrol as a bear took number 5 spot for about 1/4 mile until they realised what had happened. Cue 6 big strong guys with guns wearing brown trousers and hiding behind bushes!
And if anyone DOES plan a trip there... if you don't invite me I'll be taking you off my Xmas card list!!!
I was thinking about maybe trying to organise a trip to the area and Kranska Gora as there is great walking and climbing to be had. Plus the people are friendly, the food is great and the alcohol is darn good too.
The Croatian marten or 'Kuna' is the name of the currency as they used to use the pelts as currency.
The bears are quite erm, 'regimented'. An old army pal was on patrol up that way and for a while they had a 7 man patrol as a bear took number 5 spot for about 1/4 mile until they realised what had happened. Cue 6 big strong guys with guns wearing brown trousers and hiding behind bushes!
And if anyone DOES plan a trip there... if you don't invite me I'll be taking you off my Xmas card list!!!
I was thinking about maybe trying to organise a trip to the area and Kranska Gora as there is great walking and climbing to be had. Plus the people are friendly, the food is great and the alcohol is darn good too.
Sounds good Jak, Neil1 and I were talking about trying to get out to this locality last night as a trip, sparked off by him working with people from the Balkans and me watching the program.
From what I have heard so far anywhere in this sort of region would be good bushcrafting country. :-)
Oh it is! In the summer the place used to be crawling with walkers and climbers. There are loads of places to camp, but it's now illegal to fish for the Golden Trout in the Sava/Soca (source of the blue Danube).
The shops sell you stuff in useable amounts too. If you only want 1/3 of a loaf, that's all you buy. Just 2 slices of ham, same deal.
The area around Kranska Gora is well known for climbing and has a LOT of rare flowers ( I even found a large community of 'extinct' slipper orchids - told the park ranger and they're now one of the most popular postcards baught at Lake Bled.
I'll dig out my file and see what info I have. Haven't been back there for two years and REALLy miss the place...:cry:
Jak, I videoed it, will let you have a copy at Ashdown.
Moonraker
06-01-2005, 17:49
Shame I missed that one :cry: Wonderful country! Travelled there to visit a friend a few years ago. Not to this region though. I may well be out there this summer as we are organising a meet up down on the island of Hvar on the coast. Then hopefully up to the mountains into Slovenjia.
There is a good web site in English here for the national park
Plitvice Lakes National Park (http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/default.aspx?lan=en)
There is a lot of info on wildlife etc. You can meet up with bears, wolves and lynx too :-)
jakunen, They organised a display of orchids and a book to commemorate the 25th anniversary of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Details here:
“THE ORCHIDS*OF PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK” (http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/news.aspx?newsID=348&pageID=145&lan=en)
I guess this is your orchid :-)
http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/slike/Clanci/orhidejeknj.jpg
We have a lot of wild flowers including over 160 species of orchids here in the Aveyron department of France including the Lady's Slipper although it is v rare and usually perched up on the steep limestone gorges making photos a big adventure :wink: I hope to add them to my list this year.
If anyone has specific questions I am happy to ask my Cro friends :-)
Do check out Slovenjia too which is even easier to visit now it is in the EU:
Slovenian Tourist Board (http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/?lng=2&id_country=5)
Do let me know if you plan anything :biggthump
Steve A. You are a STAR!!!!
MR, yeah, Slovenjia is great too. Already contacted my contacts at the Croatian and Slovenian Embassies and have info on the way. Also speaking to friends to get local gen.
And yes, that is my orchid. I found around 300 of these 'extinct' beauties. The ranger couldn't belive it when I showed him where they were.
ChrisKavanaugh
06-01-2005, 19:13
I just saw a programme on the same area, titled THE FALLING LAKES. Is this the same one? I fell in love with it. They even have a new Lynx population after 3 were released in a nieghboring country.
That's the one.
Now you know why I love the place and keep thinkign about upping and settling there...
I just saw a programme on the same area, titled THE FALLING LAKES. Is this the same one? I fell in love with it. They even have a new Lynx population after 3 were released in a nieghboring country.
Chris that is the same program by the sound of it, they got onto the stuff to do with the lynx toward the end of the program and said they estimate 60 or 60 pairs now.
Chris that is the same program by the sound of it, they got onto the stuff to do with the lynx toward the end of the program and said they estimate 60 or 60 pairs now.
How many????
Go Lynx!!!!:super:
Hmm, just thinking about this thread...does anyone get the idea that I might like Plitvice Jezera as I'm posted 50% of the posts???:oops:
ChrisKavanaugh
06-01-2005, 21:32
Theres a german philosophical term "Weltsmerts" (spelling?) for a deep connection or desire for a place you've never been to. I have an online romance brewing with a lady in Romania. She says their forests are pretty open too, lots of brits come for holiday and skiing. I think I'm going to recreat myself one last time " Vlad kavanu" the Romanian Rick Mears/ Mors Kochanski.
Doesn't apply to me then CK as I've been to Croatia and SLovenia many times!
Although I did very nearly marry a girl from south eastern Croatia, a lovely girl called Mariza from Tulipe...wonder if she's still free?
I married a Slovenian Ski Instructess :nana:
I married a Slovenian Ski Instructess :nana:SWINE!!!:rolmao:
She got a sister?
Three actually, one in N.Z. two over hear but all spoken for, wanna trade.
I'll throw in a bottle or two of slivervitch :o):
Make it pelinkovac, lozovatch or grazzovatch and I might just consider...
(BTW, my avatar is one of the falls on the main lake that the slient boat runs on in Plitvice Jezera (well its quiet when the Italain school kids aren't on it!!!)).
Burnt Ash
11-01-2005, 10:00
, but it's now illegal to fish for the Golden Trout in the Sava/Soca (source of the blue Danube).
Is that golden trout, Jakunen, or are you thinking of the marbled trout (Salmo marmorata)?
Burnt Ash
Burnt Ash
11-01-2005, 10:08
Is that golden trout, Jakunen, or are you thinking of the marbled trout (Salmo marmorata)?
On checking, that should probably be Salmo trutta marmoratus (though I've seen it given as marmorata in several places)
Burnt Ash
I'm not an icthyologist mate!:?: I just go by what it says in the brochures...
Had some feedback from both the Croatian and Slovene embassies.
You can no longer 'wild' camp and must use designated areas within designated campsites, especially in designated parks (Plitvice Jezera, Krka, etc).
However...I have a few contacts and will be talking to them to see if they know any friendly landowners who might, for a few bottle of pelinkovac be willing to let us use there woods.
Watch this space...
Useful info on Plitvice Jezera
http://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/plitvicelakes/
http://www.croatia.hr/destinations/destinations.aspx?id_destinati on=332
Moonraker
11-01-2005, 11:44
Had some feedback from both the Croatian and Slovene embassies.
You can no longer 'wild' camp and must use designated areas within designated campsites, especially in designated parks (Plitvice Jezera, Krka, etc).
However...I have a few contacts and will be talking to them to see if they know any friendly landowners who might, for a few bottle of pelinkovac be willing to let us use there woods.
I didn't think it was ever legal to wild camp in CRO or SLO jakunen :?: ( i.e. they never had a legal or common understanding for free access and camping like Allemansrätten in Sweden) Just that it was pretty relaxed in the old days. But they have become stricter especially in the national parks because of increased impact on the ecosystems from visitors and especially some very bad forest fires.
Like the rest of Europe, except for those Scandinavian countries ( and now it is tacitly accepted in Scotland in the mountains I understand) where there are rights, it is not legal in the strict sense BUT people still do it. The more pressure from tourists especially in the more attractive areas (like national parks) then rules have had to be brought in to control their impact. I understand the reasons for this and also the real dangers of wild fires ( and not so wild but deliberate fires :cry: ). I guess like so much in life today it is common sense and often people are happy if you ask them first. Actually in France is is legal to wild camp but you have to ask the land owners permission first. The problem here is the hunting in many wooded areas which makes it dangerous in the season and the forest fires. But if you keep things discreet then it is rarely a problem.
Yeah, the not so natural fires are a big problem. Around Dubrovnik three years they lost 4000 acres of forest/woodland due to :***: :***: :***: :***: :***: :***: :***: :***: idiots not bothering to think that with 40 degree heat and no rain, deliberately setting fire to a small wood 'for fun', would be a problem.
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
I was absolultely livid and if I'd got my hands on the :***: I'd have done some rather unpleasant things to them as Croatia feel like a home-from-home for me. Whenever I go there it really feels like I've come home when I see the plane starting to descend into Split Airport and the Istrian peninsular is ahead and the Jadran (Adriatic) is blue and sun crested to my right out of the window...
Sorry, got lost in a bit of nostalgic 'homesickness' there.
Erm, where was I? Oh yeah, that's why I said I'm going to try my contacts and a bribe of spirits...
falling rain
11-01-2005, 13:14
Hey Jak I'd definately be interested if you're looking at going there. If you did look at it when were you thinking of going ? This year or next ?
Depends on my job situation. I'm on the dole 1st Feb, so unless I can get a new job it'll 'probably' be next year, late April/May/early June, after the weather has warmed up a bit, the wild flowers are out and the tourists and foreign school kids haven't arrived in force. And it not got up to 40 degrees...
There is a campsite in Plitvice Jezera, but I have lists all the registered ones in both Croatia and Slovenia thanx to my friends at the embassies, plus loads of info on both countries, although I do have more on Hrvaska (Croatia), it being my hearts home...
I'll do some more research and feasibilty studies and then put the info up and see who's interested. Although to be honest I'd just as happily go with only one or two people as a larger group.
Anyone get the idea I kinda like the place??