It is a system of 16 lakes covering an area of ​​19.5 hectares. The lakes are interconnected by the rivers, cascades and waterfalls – these are around 90. Plitvice lakes are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Croatia.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia by 29cm

The lakes are surrounded by forested hills of the mountain massifs of Mala Kapela, Medvjedak and Lička Plješevica. The lakes are divided into two parts.

The upper part consists of 12 lakes and are situated in the Dolomite valley and are fed by the rivers of Bijela and Crna Rijeka. It is here where you can find one of the largest lakes of the park, Prošćansko lake, with an area of ​​68 hectares. It is also the highest situated lake, as we can find it at an altitude of 639 meters. The largest lake is that of Lake Kozjak covering an area of ​​81.5 hectares which is, with its depth of 46 meters, also the deepest one. The lakes are connected by beautiful waterfalls, from which the best are the cascade of Sastavci, that are 49 metres high.

The second part of the Plitvice Lakes consists of four lakes that are formed by water dropping into underground caves. There are 20 karst caves that can be found in this part of the lake system. The water of these lakes is rich in various shades of blue and green colors.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia by Silviapef

Forest around the national park is one of the best preserved of its kind in Europe. Since there is rare flora, there are several places that are protected and inaccessible to visitors of the park at all. There is also a number of endemic species, very interesting is a meadow with 42 species of orchids and 16 species of lilies. Forest have become a home to big predators such as wolves, lynx and bears. You can also meet wild boars, hares, foxes, weasels, martens, kingfishers and storks.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is changing persistently. The current appearance of the park may be a history in the few years. For example, in the last 35 years the water level of the lakes rose by 0.5 meters, which changed the contours and shape of the cascades. The total area of ​​the park is almost 300 square kilometers and thus lakes and waterfalls are just a tiny fraction of this unique area.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia by René Krečmer

Currently, visitors can access just a part of the park. It is possible to see the lakes by following the trail which is 18 km long. You cannot leave the marked trails. Also swimming is prohibited in the lakes. The park is open all year round and the admission fee is about 10EUR in low season (November 1 – March 31) and about 15EUR in high season (April 1 – October 31). There is a mild climate in the park, temperature in July is around 23 °C, in January around 3°C when the park is usually covered with snow. The park is open daily from 7:00 to 20:00 in summer or from 08:00 to 16:00 in winter.

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Lago di Bolsena

Within a crater of the extinct Vulcini volcano, Lake Bolsena is just south from Tuscany in the region of Northern Lazio. The main nearby village is the old town of Bolsena on the lake’s northern banks. The town is now a resort village with the old town and castle well preserved. The historic island of Bisentina lies within the lake, and it has an old church as well as a historic prison for heretical priests and a convent. Then, a small fishing town on the lake has a castle. People currently enjoy fishing, boating and swimming at Lake Bolsena.

Lago di Bolsena, Italy by Hengist Decius

Lago di Como

Italy’s most popular lake for getaways, Lake Como is a “Y” shaped body of water of the Lake District in the Alps’ foothills. Visitors are captivated by stunning views of blue waters, charming lakeside villages with comfortable accommodations and tall mountains on the northern side of the lake near the country’s border with Switzerland. Visitors should take a boat cruise and stop at some of the smaller villages for cool treats at gellaterias. Other area activities are photography, hiking and a variety of water sports.

Photo of Menaggio, Lago di Como, Italy by Gerry Labrijn

Lago di Garda

The most visited and the largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda is in the country’s northern Lake District. The lovely village of Limone with its many fragrant lemon trees is on the northern side of the lake where rugged cliffs dominate the landscape. Waterfront walkways, beaches and castles from the Middle Ages are around Lake Garda. Families enjoy water sports and nearby parks like the amusement park, Gardaland.

Photo of Toscolano, Lago di Garda, Italy by Studio eLBee

Lago di Maggiore

To the west from Lake Como, Lake Maggiore is Italy’s longest lake at 65 kilometers. The far north of the lake crosses the border into Switzerland. The area has a fair to mild climate even though it is mostly surrounded by the foothills of the Alps. Visitors enjoy exploring the lake’s three islands. The widest point of this body of water is near the town of Luino.

Photo of Lago di Maggiore, Italy by Oliver Keller

Lago di Trasimeno

Close to Tuscany in Umbria, Lake Trasimeno is known as the site for a battle between Hannibal and Rome. The lake is fairly shallow and has some beaches along its shoreline. A large island is within Trasimeno Lake, famous for the lace that the people on the island produce. Historic towns dot the landscape around this body of water, and many of them have fascinating castle ruins. If you would like to visit any of these lakes you can compare lake Como holidays from inghams.co.uk and I hope to see you at the waters edge for a much deserved cocktail.

Photo of Lago di Trasimeno, Italy by Roberto Taddeo

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Studio eLBee

1. Cities and towns by lakes often have a rich cultural history supported by the presence of that lake.
If you really want to visit a place that has it all, and expansive lake with a thriving cultural presence, then Italy’s Lake Garda – the largest lake in the country – is the perfect location. It is located in Northern Italy, about halfway between Verona and Brescia, and is easily accessible from the north by the Brenner Pass. There are many different places to stay during a visit to Lake Garda. There are pricey exclusive resorts, as well as affordable family sized villas for rent. On this south side of Lake Garda lies the ancient Roman city of Sirmione. Here you can visit ancient spa complexes, and Scaliger castle which was built in the 13th century. Gardaland is a theme park that is popular among the locals and tourists alike.

2. Lakes support a wide variety of relaxing activities.
Visiting a lake means that you can take part in lots of different activities. Lakes are excellent places to take part in water sports, like kayaking, canoeing, or sailing. The Masuria region of Poland has over 1,000 lakes in the north western part of the country, and is an extremely popular destination for water sports. These are all glacial lakes, and while relatively deep, they are calm and therefore excellent places to take sailing lessons. There are many rivers and streams that connect these lakes, and these are great for paddling expeditions.

3. Lakes are perfect habitats for nature lovers.
Lakes are large areas of freshwater that attracts many different kinds of animals. Lake Ladoga, one of the largest lakes in the world, and the largest in Europe, also has a very large population of water birds. Freshwater fish are also very numerous, making this lake great for fishermen. This lake, that spans across both Russia and Finland, is perfect for birdwatchers and naturalists. Why not find a local car hire company, rent a car and head over to Lake Ladoga, ecologically a very special lake, and invites all kinds of explorations.

4. Cleaner, more beautiful water.
Lakes are often disregarded over coastal areas in favour of beaches and a beach scene, but savvy travellers know that some lake beaches are even more beautiful and relaxing. Lake Annecy of France is regarded as Europe’s cleanest lake, and also happens to be France’s second largest lake. It is the cleanest because of strict environmental regulations. Swimming, biking around the shore and water sports are the most popular activities here. A visit to France is not complete without a getaway to beautiful, scenic Lake Annecy.

5. Beautiful mountain lakes are a true getaway all year long.
Lakes can be situated in many different habitats, and mountain lakes are especially unique. The landscape surrounding mountain lakes are refreshing, with the forest covered peaks and valleys. Lake Geneva is one of the most popular destinations for lake holidays in Switzerland and Europe. It is the largest alpine lake in Europe, sitting at an elevation of 1,220 feet. Visiting mountain lakes means that even in the winter there are surrounding activities. At Lake Geneva, skiing, as well as mountain and lake scenery make it a great place to visit, even in the winter. In the summer, yachting on the lake and lounging on the shores are very popular.

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The park itself is composed mostly of the Dauphiné Alps, a prominent mountain range that is located just to the south of Grenoble. Écrins National Park covers an area of just over 908 square kilometers of mountains. There are also glacial fields and valleys as well as pastures, woodlands, rivers and lakes.

Écrins National Park in France by Guillaume Baviere

The most prominent mountain peak within the Park is that of the Barre des Ecrins which rises more than 4,102 meters above sea level. However, there are many other mountain peaks that can be found in or around Écrins National Park.

There are many things to see and do in Écrins National Park regardless of the time of year. The glacial fields and valleys are perfect for skiing especially during the wintertime. The rest of the region offers some of the finest summertime recreation available; including hiking, camping as well as canoeing and kayaking. There are number of rivers that can be found throughout the park including the Romanche, Drac as well as the Durance.

Huge waterfall in Écrins National Park, France by Guillaume Baviere

Écrins National Park is important wildlife protection area that has been dedicated to a number of important animal and plant life; some of which is in danger of extinction. Nonetheless, choosing to visit the park is an amazing experience regardless of who you are. The awe-inspiring and picturesque views that are afforded to one who visits Écrins National Park, make the trek worthwhile.

There is a reason why so many people make their way to the Écrins National Park each and every single year. From the natural beauty to the untouched wonders the park has to offer, you could find yourself busy for days on end.

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