PHOTO: ALEKSANDAR GOSPIĆ
Magnificent mountains

Velebit Nature Park

Velebit is Croatia's largest mountain range. Over its entire length of 150 kilometres Velebit has been protected as a nature park, together with two national parks and a series of smaller specially protected areas. With more than 2,000 square kilometres, Velebit Nature Park is by far Croatia's largest protected area. This magnificent mountain range offers two faces, bare rocky slopes on the coastal side and vast forests on the continental side. The range abounds in natural values as unusual rock formations, wild canyons, deep pits and caves, and it is particularly rich in endemic species of plants and animals. Due to its special natural values, in 1978 UNESCO included the Velebit mountain range in its international network of the Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB).

Dinara

The mountain of Dinara is natural border between Croatia and Bosnia. It also devides two climatic different regions-mediterranean and continental. The second highest peak of Dinara (1831m) is the highest peak in Croatia. It is a massif 20 km long and 10km wide, and presents water shed of the rivers of Krka and Cetina and in its southern foot there is the well of the river of Krčić. On the opposite side the massif ends qually dramatically: with deep and strong wells of the river Cetina, near which there is the entrance in the 2080m deep Gospodska cave with the subterranean lake at its end. Dinara is not populated, and its spectacular characteristic is the longest rock in Croatia. The rock is 6km long.

Climbing the mountain of Dinara requires extensive mountaineering experience. The accomodation is available in the Mountaineering lodge in Brezovac (1050 m), as well as in the Hunting lodge.

Veliki Kozjak

Veliki Kozjak is a stony mountain ridge located between the neighbouring and more famous Dinara and Svilaja ridges, i.e. above the Kijevo municipality in the Šibenik-Knin county hinterland. The highest peak, 1206-metre tall Bat, offers an unforgettable view of the surrounding mountains, the fertile Petrovo Polje field, as well as the towns of Knin and Drniš. Apart from Bat, Veliki Kozjak boasts another three peaks above 1000 metres, suitable for development of the richest mountain flora in Dalmatia, with as many as 10 endemic plants.