Croatia's Plitvice National Park was declared a national park since 1949 (Nacionalni Park Plitvička jezera), representing the oldest nature reserve in south-eastern Europe, visited annually by about 1 million tourists.
Plitvice Park in 1979 was declared World Heritage by UNESCO. Karst is a system consisting of 16 lakes, Plitvice joined together by the river, and through dozens of spectacular waterfalls. Dense pine forests that flank the karst system shelter bears, wolves and various birds. The largest lake is Lake Kozjak (Navigator). The 16 lakes are: Lake Prošćansko, Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Batinovac, Veliko Jezero, Malo Jezero, Vir Galovac, Milinovo Lake, Lake Gradinsko, Buk, Kozjak, Milanovac, Gavanovac, Kaluđerovac, Novakovic Brod.
