Nacionalni park Krka

Krka National Park

Useful Information

photography — Skradinski buk, Krka waterfalls. Public Domain.

Location:	22221, Lozovac. Between Knin and Skradin. (43.8051495, 15.9639962)
Open:	JAN to FEB daily 9-16. MAR to APR daily 8-18. MAY daily 8-19. JUN to AUG daily 8-20. SEP daily 8-19. 01-OCT to 15-OCT daily 8-18. 16-=CT to 31-OCT daily 8-17. NOV to DEC daily 9-16. [2020]
Fee:	JAN to MAR, NOV to DEC: Adults HRK 30, Children (7-18) HRK 20, Children (0-6) free. Groups (20+): Adults HRK 20, Children (5-15) HRK 20. APR to MAY, OCT: Adults HRK 100, Children (7-18) HRK 80, Children (0-6) free. Groups (20+): Adults HRK 75, Children (5-15) HRK 30. JUN to SEP: Adults HRK 200, Children (7-18) HRK 120, Children (0-6) free. Groups (20+): Adults HRK 150, Children (5-15) HRK 60. [2020]
Classification:	Sinter Terraces Tufa Deposits tufa caves
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Nacionalni park Krka.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1985	declared a National Park.

Description

The most spectacular karst-related feature of Nacionalni park Krka (Krka National Park) is the short piece of the river Krka between the villages Knin and Skradin. On 2 km the river forms numerous travertine lakes connected by waterfalls, composed of the limestone from the limestone rich karst water of the river. There are numerous small and eight bigger waterfalls, one behind the other, called (Krka Waterfalls). From the lowest to the highest, these are Skradinski buk, Roški slap, Miljačka slap, Sondovjel, Manojlovački slapovi, Ćorića buk and Bilušića buk.

Skradinski buk, the lowest, is also said to be the most beautiful waterfall. It is composed of seventeen drops with a total height of 45.7 m on a length of 800 m. Depending on the amount of water it is between 200 and 400 m wide. It was used as a film set for the German Karl May movies and as a result became quite popular. Another impressive set of waterfalls is the Manojlovački slapovi, a set of waterfalls with a total height of 59.6 m and a main waterfall of 32 m height.

On the banks of the Krka River lie old mills and forges, weaving mills and laundries. Once the power of the water was the reason why an industrial centre developed on its banks. The mills were grinding the grain of the farmers in the whole area. And since the 17th century, women have washed bed linen and blankets here in laundries. Until the 1980s, poor people lived in houses without water, so they came here with their laundry. The stone buildings from the 13th century were renovated and are now an open-air ethno-museum.

At the main waterfall the Jaruga Hydroelectric Power Plant is located, which was actually the first hydroelectric power plant in Europe, built in 1895. It was operational two days after Niagara Falls' installation of the first hydroelectric power plant in the world. And the demand for electricity increased, a second power station named Jaruga 2 was built in 1903. This is the one which is now open for tourists. However, it was well maintained and produces electricity until today.

A little outside the park, but still in a protected area, is the spring of the Krka.