Northern Velebit National Park is Croatia's newest
national park, designated a national
park only in 1999. The park includes the most pristine areas of the
northern part of the Velebit range which runs parallel to the Adriatic
coast. The national park is within the Velebit
Nature Reserve which also contains Paklenica
National Park.
The two main peaks of the range are the Rozanski
and Hajducki kukovi peaks. The most remarkable feature
of Hajducki kukovi is the extraordinary Lukina cave. With
a depth of 1392 metres, it is the eighth deepest cave in the world
and only 83m have been explored! Lukina made history when an entirely
new variety of leech was found in it. The virgin forest of Stirovaca
is another prime attraction of the park. It is the largest completely
pristine forest in Croatia. Many of the flora endemic to the park
are on display in the Velebit Botanical Garden, near
Zavizan.
Hikers will want to take the
Premuzic Path which runs west of te forest road and
affords an open view of the sea. Altough the section between Veliki
Alan and Ostarije is in a state of neglect, the highlight is the section
through Rozanski kukovi which has the most memorable views. It is
also accessible to even the moderately fit.
Travel to Northern Velebit National Park
The northern Velebit is
the least accessible of Croatia's national parks. Road access is via
Otocac, not far from Plitvice
National Park. Most mountaineers meet just below Zavizan and take
the Premuziceva staza road into the park. There is also a climbers'
lodge just below Zavizan.
Tourist Information
The Northern
Velebit national park office (tel 053 851 227) is in Krasno.
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