EUROPA 2012 - VISIT CROATIA - PAKLENICA

 
NATIONAL PARK PAKLENICA
 
National park Paklenica stretches from the sea-side slope of south Velebit, above the settlements Starigrad–Paklenica and Selina, to the zone of highest mountain peaks (Vaganski vrh, Babin vrh, Sveto brdo) – between 15°23’ and 15°35’ of the east geographic longitude and between 44°18’ and 44°25’ of the north geographic latitude.  This area of exceptional natural beauties, diverse geological formations and rich flora and fauna was recognised as the most interesting part of the Velebit karst and proclaimed a national park in 1949.  
 
On 95 square kilometres the National Park Paklenica comprises the torrents of Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica, i.e. their recognisable canyons vertically cut into the south slopes of Velebit and wider surrounding area. Since it is built from  limestone  and dolomite, Paklenica is characterised by a variety of karst phenomena such as sinkholes,  natural stone arch  bridges, caverns, caves…the area of the National Park Paklenica  is among the speleological most thoroughly  researched  areas in Croatia with 76 discovered and  researched  speleological objects, whereof 39 caverns and 37 caves. The biggest and richest with cave decoration are the cave Manita peć, accommodated for tourist visits and the cavern Vodarica. 
 
 
Woods cover two thirds of the park area and are characterised by wide varieties of plants – from beech woods to autochthon woods of black pine, the mere name Paklenica originating most probably from the name for the resin of the black pine (Croatian „pakline“) which was used by local inhabitants in folks medicine for curing wounds, as resin lamps – to provide light and for coatings of wooden ships. Among the floristic decorations of Paklenica the most noticeable is rock vegetation, especially various kinds of bell flowers while on rocky soil prevail salvia and heather and in the meadows of Paklenica grow many sorts of orchids and lilies. 
 
Different habitats in the area of Paklenica as well as the height segmentation and a very well preserved eco-system are a precondition for a rich fauna world of Paklenica, esteemed to house more than 4000 different species.  It is not rare to meet some of the species that have disappeared from many European regions. It is especially true for some species of butterflies, i.e. southern festoon, scarce swallowtail or papilio machaon.
In the group of amphibians and reptiles 31 species are known and among serpents 11. Most often in national park non venomous serpents -   Balkan whip snake and leopard (Elaphe situla) and Aesculapian (Elaphe longissima) snake can be seen. Long-nosed viper (Vipera ammodytes) and a very rare karst viper (Vipera ursinii macrops) are the only venomous snakes in this region.
 
Birds are the most numerous group of vertebrates and so far there have been registered 230 species. From birds that build nests worth mentioning is a community of birds living in the canyons and cliffs of Velika and Mala Paklenica with 24 species whereof the most  numerous are western rock-nuthatch (Sitta neumayer) and blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius). Especially valuable for the park are its endangered and rare raptors as golden eagle, peregrine falcon, short-toed eagle and goshawk. By the end of 1999 there were also three pairs of griffon vulture. Unfortunately the decreasing number of cattle in Velebit region and frequent attempts to poison predators, especially the wolf have let to its extinction in the park region.
 
The mills of Paklenica, its mortars and small mountain hamlets help us envisage the life of the highlanders of this area from prehistoric times. On the stream Velika Paklenica in the first half of the 19^th century seven water mills were built. Until the 6o-ties of the 20^th century these watermills have served the inhabitants of Podgorje and often also the inhabitants of Ravni kotari and the islands of Zadar archipelago.
 
More than half a century of mountain climbing and sports climbing has put Paklenica at equal foot with the best known climbing centres. The climbing ground numbers almost 400 climbing directions of varied difficulty and lengths, with the climbing season lasting from early spring to late autumn.
 
 
Dragica Jović