Plitvicka was declared National Park in 1949 and is thus Croatia's Oldest National Park. In 1979, the park was listed on UNESCO's list of the World Natural Heritage Sites.

Plitvice Lakes National Park lies in the Plitvice plateau which is surrounded by three mountains part of the Dinaric Alps. The actual park consists of a multitude of entangled lakes, rivers, waterfalls and caves, this has given rise to the most distinctive feature of the park.

The lakes are separated by natural dams of travertine, which is deposited by the action of moss, algae, and bacteria. The bedrock in the area contains a lot of calcium that dissolves in the water. This gives rise to a special type of algae. These algae produce calcium precipitates which settles on the lake floor. Plants, moss and bacteria accumulates on top of the sediments and makes barriers between the lakes. Water running over the barriers creates a deep hole in the step below. The result is a fascinating collection of deep pools, waterfalls and new riverbeds. The landscape is constantly changing and the water disappears and shows up in new places all the time. The encrusted plants and bacteria accumulate on top of each other, forming travertine barriers are growing at the rate of about 1 cm per year. This natural phenomenon also makes the water green and clear in the dammed lakes.

The lakes collectively cover an area of about two km², with the water exiting from the lowest lake to form the Korana River. The lakes are renowned for their distinctive colours, ranging from azure to green, grey or blue. The colours change constantly depending on the quantity of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of sunlight. The visibility is incredible and fish, trees and rock can be clearly seen several meters below the water surface.

Tourists can walk along the river, lakes and caves on well prepared pathways. There is no need for trekking capabilities since there are parking lots close to the most famous spots. It is however possible to walk more than 20 kilometers on the paths if you’re into more serious hiking.

It should also be mentioned that the war in former Yugoslavia started in Plitvicka 31 March 1991. Serbs from the Krajina region occupied the park and the Croatian police, Josip Jovic, the war's first victim. The park was under Serbian control throughout the war and the hotels here were used as military barracks.

When the Croatian army recaptured the park in August 1995, the lakes and surrounding nature untouched, but hotels and other facilities in the area were battered.

Everything has now been restored and repaired and the park will now receive more tourists than ever and well worth a visit. The Plitvice Lakes are today one of Croatia's biggest tourist attractions.