I recently went on a short, spontaneous photography trip. Three of my friends and I departed our hometown of Budapest and headed for one of Croatia’s largest National Parks surrounding the Plitvice Lakes.

The total area of the National Park is 295 km2, and the surface area of the lakes is 2 km2. There are sixteen lakes positioned in a North - South direction, stretching out in a garland shape, situated in the Kapela Mountains. Over millions of years, the Korana Creek has carved a deep valley into the Southern, limestone areas of the mountain, strongly characterized by karst processes.

The formation of the Plitvice Lakes was also the result of these transformations. The limestone creates dykes, sills and other structures in the karst rivers and streams. (Contrary to typical hot water formations, limestone tufa precipitates out of cold water here). The lakes’ extreme blue color is the result of this karst occurrence.

Limestone formation is a continuous process by which various waterfalls are formed. Over time, the water changes its bed, leaving its former direction dry, and in turn raising new formations elsewhere. We could say, Plitvice is never the same as before.

We practically hiked the entire area struggling with the cold and half a meter of snow. A few of my photos from the tour below.

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