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Aerial view of upper Lakes in Croatia. By dronepicr.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about the Upper Lakes

The Upper Lakes are made up of 12 lakes that sit on a waterproof dolomite substrate that was formed during the late Triassic Period.

This lake group begins with Proscansko Lake, which has the highest altitude, and ends with Lake Kozjak, which has the lowest.

Let’s have a look at some of the fascinating facts about the upper Lakes;

1. Proscansko Lake

Proscansko Lake. Picture By Jason Rogers.

That term was given because of stakes (prosce) or the mythology of “prosnja” (praying the black Queen for water). The Matica flow enters the lake, or more precisely, joins the water of the Black and White rivers.

The lake is 636 meters above sea level, 0.68 kilometers long, and 37 meters deep in front of Osmanova draga or 370 meters away from the Labudovacka barrier. The lake’s length is 2100 meters, and its width ranges from 180 to 400 meters.

Liman draga is 900m long and splits off to the west at the lake’s entrance. Because of the lake’s width and depth, the water is a dark green color.

The lake’s slight elevations are covered by dense coniferous and deciduous woods, creating a perfect calm and reflecting leaf colors on the water’s surface as the seasons change.

2. Ciganovac Lake

Ciganovac Lake. Picture By Alessandro Caproni.

Ciganovac, also known as Cigino Jezioro (Gypsy’s Lake), was named after a mythical “Gypsy” who drowned while fishing.

This lake receives water from Proscansko Lake via a carved-out canal, though a portion of the water that flows in is likely to be drained beneath the ground via the Labudovacka barrier, or “Delta,” as it was originally known.

The Proscansko lake waterfall, with collapsed travertine blocks in its southeastern part, is the most interesting feature of that lake.

The northern bank edge is formed by the plateau Stubica slopes (from its Tomic lookout point, there is the most beautiful view of Ciganovac and the spacious Proscansko lake), and the western afforested slopes are inclinations of the Proscansko crest and the Proscansko lake.

3. Okrugljaj Lake

Okrugljaj Lake. Picture courtesy of Karl Gruber.

 This lake has a surface area of 0.04 km and is 613 meters above sea level. The lake’s deepest point, at the foot of the Labudovacka barrier, is 15 meters.

The 7-meter-high waterfall flows into Okrugljak from Ciganovac on the northwestern side, while the over-20-meter-high Labudovacki waterfall decorates a section of a more than 100-meter-wide dried-up travertine barrier beneath which numerous cavities, semi-caves, and caves known as “cave park” are located.

Traveling between them used to be possible via carved rocky stairs. The entrance to Janecekova cave, which is more than 50 meters long, was found beneath Labudovacki waterfall.

A portion of the fall has now fallen into the cave hole, making access impossible. The southernmost artificial canal on the Labudovacka barrier has been dug, carrying water into the next lake from Proscansko lake to the barrier incline.

4. Galovac Lake

The lake is 582m above sea level, has a depth of 24m on the northern side of the lake under the Stubica slope, and has an area of 0.12 km. This is the Plitvice Lakes’ third largest lake.

The waterfalls, which drop into the lakes, are located on the western side, behind the travertine barriers of the above-mentioned Mala jezera. The highest is a 28-meter-high waterfall in the barrier’s southwestern corner, which is fed by Batinovac lake water.

There are stunning dolomite mountain spurs along the northern path, which is positioned under the hillside of Stubica, and a view of the lake spreads from the higher point. The shallow water on the northwestern side of the large lake is light green, while the deeper water in the middle is dark.

When the hillsides become red and the redness blankets the deciduous trees along the waterfalls and the lake, this lake area takes on a distinct beauty. The entire eastern side of the lake is significant due to its numerous waterfalls – called Prstavci – that descend from the Galovac lake level over a 20m high travertine barrier.

5. Gradinsko Lake

(Gradinsko jezero), also known as Jezerce, was named after the ancient walls (gradina) that once stood on the ridge between Kozjak and this lake. The lake is 553 meters above sea level, has a depth of 10 meters in its westernmost section, and is 0.8 kilometers long.

The watercolor in this lake varies from light green to white in shallow water and then to dark green in deeper water. Today, a submerged barrier was visible in the middle of the lake, just 1.5 to 2m below water level, and two more barriers are submerged in the lake’s lowest and narrowest section.

The white color in the lake is known as “bjelar,” which is an uncovered remnant of pure travertine mud underwater vegetation.

6. Kozjak Lake

Kozjak Lake. Picture By Bijonse.

The name was derived from a legend in which 30 young goats drowned while fleeing wolves by crossing over shaky ice. The lake is located 534 meters above sea level, has a depth of 46 meters, and covers an area of 0.83 kilometers.

The permanent Brook flow runs alongside the water of Burgeta waterfall into Glibovita draga, just opposite the peak Gradina, and then into Kozjak lake. Except for a few permanent springs, the Matijasevac and Jasenovac streams, as well as the flow of Vodena draga, all flow into Kozjak on the lake’s western side. A water phenomenon occurred in a small bay just across Gradina on the lake’s eastern side.

This, the largest of the Plitvice Lakes, stretches from northwest to southeast, narrow in the south and wide in the north. It was caused by the rocky base’s different geological construction on its eastern and western sides.

7. Burgeti Lakes

The next lake we’ll discuss is “Burgeti Lakes,” which is made up of several lakes. These lakes are basically made up of small lakes or ponds that are connected and fed by water from “Gradinsko Lake.”

To keep them apart, nature has created porous travertine barriers. They are best known for two distinct ponds known as “Veliki Burget” and “Mali Burget” (“Small Burget”). Along the shores, low bushes, trees, and barriers can be seen.

An old stone building hidden among the bushes among these ponds is proof that locals attempted to use the water and its natural flows to power an electric generator.

This pond area is relatively flat and easy to navigate. When you reach the southern shores of Burgeti, there is a Gradina hill where waters flow into Kozjak Lake.

8. Veliko Jezero

Veliko Jezero. Picture By Greg Schechter.

Veliko jezero (Lake Veliko), also known as Jovinovac Veliki (Large Jovinovac), is the highest lake in the entire lake system, rising 607 meters above sea level. It is one of the smallest lakes. With a total area of just under 2 hectares and a maximum depth of 8 meters. The lake’s total length is about 120 meters, and its total width is just under 45 meters. The lake is part of the Plitvice Upper Lakes group.

The lake is fed by waters from Okrugljak Lake. The shores of the lake are bordered by low barriers and low vegetation as well as by several tall trees.

The waters around here are yellowish/turquoise colors due to their depth and surrounding vegetation. In all seasons, the waters reflect the colors of the surroundings. It is very easy to stroll on a wooden walkway and wooded paths around the whole lake as the area around the lake is pretty flat.

9. Malo jezero

Malo jezero (Malo Lake), also known as Jovinovac mali (Small Jovinovac), is the sixth-highest lake in the entire lake system, rising 604 meters above sea level. It is one of the small(er) lakes, with a total area of just over 1 hectare and a maximum depth of 9.5 meters. The lake’s total length is approximately 146 meters, with a maximum width of approximately 80 meters. The lake is part of the Plitvice Upper Lakes group.

The lake, fed by Okrugljak waters, is located beneath the dolomite slopes of Stubica hill, near the path that circles the north side of Veliko Lake. The lake’s shores are surrounded by low barriers, numerous small waterfalls, cascades, and tall trees. The water around here is green, reflecting the colors of the surroundings. The area around the lake is almost flat, with paths and built-in wooden walkways, making a stroll around the lake easy.

At the lake’s southern end, on its southeast edge, a very low barrier with small cascades forms, where waters flow down into Galovac.

10. Batinovac jezero

 The fourth-highest lake in the entire lake system, Batinovac jezero (Batinovac Lake), also known as Bakinovac, rises 610 meters above sea level. The lake’s shores are surrounded by low barriers, low vegetation, and some tall trees, and it is surrounded by tall beech trees and lovely paths that lead along a series of small waterfalls made of travertine, mosses, and herbs.

The waters around here have lovely colors due to the depth and surrounding vegetation, and reflections of the colors in the water correspond to seasons.

On a clear and sunny day, the scene, mood, and magic of the moment are truly unforgettable because the constant sound of the water soothes. Walking around Batinovac is possible thanks to the wooden

Part of the lake’s water flows down a waterfall to the Galovac, while the rest overflows into other lakes to the north via very low barriers and small cascades (aka Veliko jezero)