By Croatia is known for its large number of interesting caves, located in all parts of the country. The Velebit mountain chain hides perhaps the majority of them and, as of this year, tourists will once again be able to take in some of the better known of the Velebit caves – the Cerovac Caves, which have been closed to the public over the past three years.
Velebit Nature Park
Velebit mountain is the most spacious, beautiful and, according to its striking relief and vegetation, the most significant mountain in Croatia; because of the exceptional richness of the vegetation and animal world, and its numerous endemic species, it has been proclaimed a World Biosphere Reserve.
Lonjsko Polje Nature Park
The variety and wealth of the plant and animal worlds is linked to forests, marshy meadows and pasture land. Due to its rich ornithofauna Lonjsko polje has been registered among the protected European areas, in accordance with the Ramsar Convention.
Biokovo Nature Park
Barren limestone rocks of broken relief and with watershed features, mountain grasslands and rocky pastures, and the blending of the Mediterranean and mountain climate has ensured that Biokovo is second only to Velebit in its number of endemic species.
Ucka Nature Park
From the top of Učka there are wonderful panoramic views of Kvarner and the islands, all the way to the north Dalmatian islands and Velebit, towards Istria, Gorski kotar and Slovenia.
Zumberak Nature Park
In Zumberak Nature Park there are villages with meadows, pastures and small cultivated areas. Žumberak’s highest peak is Sveta Gera (1178 metres). The beauty of the landscape attracts many mountaineers, tourists who come to enjoy rural life, and pilgrims who visit sacred sites.
Papuk Nature Park
Protected areas on Papuk are the Rupnica geomorphological monument, the fir forest reserve of Sekulinačka planina, and the Jnakovac park forest. There are also numerous excursion destinations: Zvečevo, Đedovica and Voćin, the bathing facility at Velika, etc
Vrana Lake Nature Park
The total area of the Nature Park is 5700 ha. In its north-western part the lake shores are covered with bull-rushes and reeds; this is an ornithological reserve which, in addition to harbouring numerous colonies of heron, also attracts the ibis.
Risnjak National Park
Risnjak National Park is located very close to Rijeka, extends all the way to the Slovenian border. This wide area comprises a whole range of natural phenomena but not one single tourist facility, which makes it ideal for those who seek unspoiled mountain nature which shows is at its best when everything bursts into flower come springtime.
Northern Velebit National Park
This national park, established as recently as 1999, encompasses the highest areas of northern Velebit. This wide area has remained untouched to this day, its ecological system well balanced.