National park "Paklenica"

Paklenica lies on the south, the sea-facing side of the Velebit range. It was proclaimed a national park not long after Plitvice, also in 1949, but here the tradition of preservation has a somewhat longer history. Paklenica along with a number of other areas was designated a nati-onal park in 1928 but, unforunately, on the a basis of an inadequate law with only temporary validity. Paklenica is only a small part of Croatia's most interesting mountain range of Velebit, but it is one of the most distinctive and richest in natural beauty and interest. What are these?
The name applies to two deep gorges, Velika (Big) and Mala (Little) Paklenica, which cut across the mountain massif leading from the sea to just below the hoghest peak. They are the only inde- ntations in the otherwise uninterupted body of the mountain and the most magnificent results of erosons on Velebit. In the upper parts of these gorges is one of the largest forests on the seaward side of Velebit. One must remember that when Paklenica was declared a national park the forest was in great danger of overfelling. There was no income from tourism at that time, nor was there electricity or gas, and the local people relied in great measure on the use of the Paklenica forests .
The georges end right beside the seashore and the Adriatic high-way with its tourist traffic, or perhaps they could be said to start here because this is the place from which almost all visotors enter the national park. It is the part that is most often visited and is most interesting. The mountain torrents of Velika and mala Paklenica have cut deep gorges in the mountain and cliffs, and rise dizzily up 300-400 metres above the walkers' pat that winds is way along the valley floor. This pleasant trail, easily negotiable at all times of the year, is only in Velika Paklenica. For Mala Paklenica good physical condition and the proper equipment are needed.
Today the torrent stream is in full spate only after rain or when the snow in the hinterland is melting, so the depth of the gorge is surprising. But it was not always so. During the last ice age rock fragmentation was greater and there were no forests in the Paklenica catchment area to give protection from erosion. The force of the streams was then much greater than it is today and so they were able to form the only "valleys" along the shores below Velebit.. It is only here that the mountain towers above long beaches, formed from gravel that was forced through the narrow gorges.
Paklenica has many caves and is an attraction for speleologists. Manita pec cave is arranged for visitors and has long (about 20 m) stalactites and a large central cave hall (65 m long, 40 m wide and 32 m high). Today it is high above the valley floor, but once it was one of the underground sinkholes. As the gorge was formed the cave dried out and stalactites and stalagmites formed.

Kukljica tourist board 23271 b.b.

tel : 023 373 276 , fax : 023 373 229

e- mail : kukljica@ugljan-pasman.com

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