| Flora of the Plitvice lakes |
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Beauty of the Plitvice Lakes and of the whole surrounding area had been inaccessible for a long time for nature - admirers (till the end of 19th century), but also to majority of researches. First but poor information about the flora of the Plitvice Lakes were from that time. A bit more information on the Plitvice Lakes flora is dating back to the middle of 19th century, but all that was still quite insufficient. More detailed researches on the low vegetation flora connected to the phenomenon of tavertine barriers creation in the Park's lakes, started in the twenties of this century. Those researches have been continuously going on right till these days, and have contributed to the explanation of travertine creation in our karst.
Systematic researches on high plants of the Plitvice Lakes National Park started relatively late - only in 1984. Results are showing abundance of plant species (1146 species) which are classified in 109 families. Except the abundance of species, this flora is showing a big diversity considering the origin and spread of species. There is a large number of endemic species too, and a large number of them is protected under the Law of the Republic of Croatia.
 The characteristics of the Park flora are consequences of number of ecological factors. We could stress among them geographical location (approximately 60 km air distance from the sea), in hinter land of the longest and the highest Croatian mountain Velebit, at the separation line between coastal and continental rainfall regime, difference in altitude above the sea level of 863m (the highest point is Seliski vrh 1289m above the sea level, and the lowest one is at the river Korana 417m above the sea level), geological base, exposure of terrain, circulation of air masses and others. Mutual interaction of all mentioned factors has made it possible for that rich and diverse vegetable world to develop. In a relatively small Park area species of different kinds, or rather species of different flora elements such as: Mediterranean, Mediterranean - Atlantic, South - European Balkan, Balkan, Carpathians, Central - European, European - Asiatic, Polar - Boreal, Arctic - Boreal, Boreal - European - Siberian and others are seen. The park area is abundant with endemic species of both local and wide spread, species protected by the Law and rare and interesting species of our flora.
Endemic species are certainly the most interesting vegetable flora group of any region or state. That is relatively numerous vegetable group in the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Considering the limited area of spread, endemic species of the Park can be classified in groups as follows:
- endemic species of Croatia and some Balkan sections - endemic species of some local areas of Europe - endemic species of large European area |