January 12, 2021 - Through a project that will last five months, the Skradin port will be enhanced by four new piers to accommodate up to eight tourist boats.  

HRTurizam reports that the ancient port of Scardona is today a modern marina for boats arriving across Lake Prokljan and enjoys a reputation as a safe haven. From this summer, it will be enhanced by a well-maintained pier and main water entrance to Skradinski Buk, the most famous and most visited waterfall on the Krka River.

In order to protect and preserve the recognizable and authentic view of Skradin, the most modern construction techniques will be used to build a new pier, fully integrated into the environment. The project is funded by the Public Institution "Krka National Park".

Namely, the pier is being readied for tourist boats in Skradin, and the works will last for five months. Landscaping the port on the maritime domain, managed by the Public Institution "Krka National Park", will begin on January 15, 2021, within which four new piers will be implemented to accommodate up to eight tourist boats. Furthermore, 145 meters of shoreline will be built, which will ensure additional stability of the city waterfront and significantly improve the current conditions of the coast.

It is an important infrastructure project that will reduce the creation of crowds when boarding and disembarking the entrance to NP Krka.

"Constructing the port in Skradin is one of the significant projects for the Public Institution 'Krka National Park' which will reduce the creation of crowds when boarding and disembarking the entrance to Krka. Visitors will be scheduled so that the time spent thus far waiting in line can be used for a quality tour of Skradin," pointed out the director of the Public Institution "Krka National Park" Nella Slavica.

In addition to the possibility of buying park tickets online, visitors will be able to book a departure date from Skradin and return from Skradinski Buk, adds Slavica, and emphasizes that this will increase the quality of service and customer satisfaction and thus directly affect the time spent in Skradin and Šibenik-Knin County.

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December 3, 2020 – New species, the Dancing Springtail has been videoed performing the fascinating and unique dance from which it takes its name. This recent discovery is so far absolutely unique to one quiet corner of Croatia's Krka National Park

It takes all sorts to make the world. In modern-day America, this is more usually said 'It takes all kinds to make the world go round'. But, this famous saying is older than the United States of America. It comes from the Spanish novel, Don Quixote, published in 1605 and written by Miguel de Cervantes - 'de todos ha de haber en el mundo' (literally, 'there must be of all [types] in the world'). Nowhere is this historic phrase more applicable than in biodiversity.

Bugs are often not the prettiest of creatures. We really don't like it when they come into our homes. But, as TCN learned in our recent article on Stinky Martin aka Smrdljivi Martin, every indigenous species has a role to play in our ecosystems. No matter how unsightly, every bug has its rightful place.

The Dancing Springtail, discovered living in a micro-section of Krka National Park, is not beautiful like a butterfly. Its silver body displays no bold colours capable of catching the eye. But, it does have its own mesmerising dance. And, so far, it is absolutely unique, not only to Croatia but to one tiny corner of Krka National Park.

Observed and recorded in video two years ago, the Dancing Springtail has now been classified and given its own name - Lepidocyrtus chorus, the second word pertaining to the curious waltz the Dancing Springtail is seen to do. Thought to relate to its feeding, diet and possibly digestion, the Dancing Springtail makes a circular movement with its abdomen, while keeping its head in one position. It rotates in both directions. This dancing movement is unique to this Croatian sub-species.

The Dancing Springtail was spotted and specimens collected from the old stone steps in the area of HPP Miljacka in Krka National Park. The stairs are usually damp, partially covered by overhead trees and overgrown with lichen and moss. This particular area of the Krka river canyon, around the Miljacka waterfall, is of exceptional importance to Krka National Park, due to the mix of caves and water features which occur there and the biodiversity within the area. For these reasons, this area is off-limits to the public. The Dancing Springtail has, so far, been seen nowhere else in the world.

The body length of the Dancing Springtail, minus the head, is 1.7 mm. The top of the body is covered with silver scales, but upon closer inspection, it has dark purple spots on the sides of its fourth abdominal ring. On its head, between the antennae, there is a purple-colored patch, roughly in the shape of a triangle.

The steps near the Miljacka waterfall where the Dancing Springtail was discovered © Krka National Park

The Dancing Springtail is a sub-species of a wider family of hexapods known as Springtails or Collembola (Skokuni, in Croatian). These bugs are no longer classed as insects, because their mouths are internal, rather than exposed. There are about 3,600 different species of Springtails. They have been observed to feed on leaf litter, fungal hyphae, spores, pollen, animal remains, colloidal materials, minerals and bacteria. In doing so, they assist the decomposition process of natural areas. They are reputed to be one of the most abundant of all macroscopic animals, with estimates of 100,000 springtails living in every square metre of ground. Anywhere there is soil, you can dig and surely find them.

A Dancing Springtail © Krka National Park

Springtails get their name from an appendage they have on their abdomen which is held under constant tension. When released, the appendage allows them to fling themselves high through the air in as little as 18 milliseconds. They use this jump as a defensive mechanism and in order to migrate to fresh feeding grounds. The appendage makes springtails one of the best jumpers on the planet.

Springtails possess the ability to reduce their body size by as much as 30% in response to rising temperatures in their environment. Warmer conditions increase their metabolic rates and so the decreasing of their size helps them survive. Springtails are good bio-indicators of soil quality and are currently used in laboratory tests for the early detection of soil pollution. Rumours persist that the United States investigated weaponising springtails for use in biological warfare, indeed that they were used for such a purpose in the Korean War. No widely-accepted proof of this usage exists.

Via the study of fossils, we know that springtails have been on the planet for at least 400 million years. If the Dancing Springtail of Krka National Park has been around for that long, its unique movement is probably the longest-running dance in the world.

July 22, 2020 – VIDEO: See The Wild Birds Of Krka National Park And A UNESCO World Heritage Site In Šibenik

Known for its series of cascading waterfalls, its picturesque pools and its acres of lush vegetation, Krka, just outside Šibenik, is one of Croatia's most-loved National Parks. But, scoring the skyline overhead and resting in its trees you can spot one of its other best attractions; the wild birds of Krka National Park.

The National Park has released a new video showcasing just some of the 229 species of birds that call Krka home. Now, you don't have to strain your eyes to see some of its wondrous winged inhabitants. Also visible in the film is the park's Visovac island and its postcard-pretty monastery.

The wild birds of Krka National Park

The short but stunning video catches kingfishers, ducks, buzzards, kestrels, cormorants, swallows and others, in flight or at play on the water's surface. But, should you choose to visit Krka National Park, there's the chance of seeing even rarer birds that sometimes live there, such as ospreys, eagles, falcon and griffon vulture.

Situated just a few kilometres from well-known seaside destination Šibenik, in summertime Krka becomes one of the most popularly visited National Parks in the country. Visitors who can't spend their entire vacation on the beach love to make the short journey inland for a day of stunning natural beauty, shaded on the pathways as they walk by trees like umbrellas.

The Fortress of St. Nicholas, just off Šibenik, the best-preserved Venetian defensive structure in Croatia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site © Sebastian Gößl

And, there's never been a better time to take in the park. Visitor numbers to the region are understandably down on 2019 and so Krka National Park this year offers a more peaceful and unhurried experience than in many previous seasons. If that wasn't incentive enough, tickets for the park in summer 2020 hold a 10% discount to entry of the Fortress of St. Nicholas in Šibenik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best-preserved Venetian defensive structure in Croatia, the fortress has undergone considerable reconstruction work over recent years and only opened itself up to the public again in 2019.

May 21, 2020 - In the twenty months since its opening, over 470 kilometers of well-maintained cycling routes in the Krka National Park, which pass through the untouched nature of the most beautiful part of the Krka River, have become a favorite destination for lovers of active holidays.

HRTurizam writes that the most attractive parts of the Park are connected with as many as 14 circular bicycle routes of different levels of difficulty with appropriate cycling signals, and the ideal combination of varying terrain configurations and rich natural and cultural heritage allows you to discover the famous destination in a completely different and sustainable way.

Whether it is for beginners, recreationalists or professionals - five MTB or mountain bike routes, three road routes, and six track routes for a pleasant family ride, will satisfy different adventurous needs and tastes.

"With the Krka Bike project, we wanted to strengthen the development potential of cycling tourism in NP Krka since it is a sustainable type of tourism that has a number of advantages - from individual ones such as a positive impact on health, to broader ones concerning the impact on local economic activities. At the same time, biking and trekking have a slight impact on the environment, which is extremely important to us since the routes are located in the protected nature of the Park," said the director of the Public Institution "Krka National Park" Nella Slavica, and added:

"Apart from offering an excellent opportunity to meet natural beauties that you did not even know existed, our cycling routes also have an educational role because they reveal the hidden treasures of the rich cultural and historical heritage preserved by the Krka National Park."

The most willing adventurers will surely dare to ride the longest "Royal route", which is 95.1 km in length, begins in front of the Branch Office of the Park in Skradin, passes through the towns of Rupe and Kistanje, and ends in the pearl of ancient history, the Roman military camp Burnum. On the way back to Skradin, it descends twice into the Krka river canyon, to the Brljan and Roški waterfalls, and after the visitor center in Laškovica, which is the center of a network of hiking and cycling routes along the river Krka, returns to Skradin by the same route. The shortest cycling route, 8.6 km long, from Skradin along the Krka leads upstream to Skradinski buk, the most beautiful and most visited waterfall on the Krka river.

More information on cycling routes, maps and GPS coordinates as well as rules of conduct for cyclists can be found on the Krka Bike website.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

January 18, 2020 - Swimming at the famous Skradinski Buk will be no more as of next year. 

HRTurizam writes that conserving and protecting natural resources and biodiversity are the main determinants of the new Regulation on protecting and preserving Krka National Park.

At a time when the world is facing the challenges of climate change, sustainability is becoming imperative for future development, especially in tourism, without talking about natural resources such as Krka National Park.

The overall viability of the Krka River basin and its wildlife rests on the development of travertine barriers, so preserving the travertine deposition process is a fundamental goal of Krka National Park.

To implement active conservation and revitalization measures and align cooperation and activities with the local community, the new regulations deliver innovations in line with long-term strategic goals and new sustainable management measures that underpin the future management plan and the pending spatial plan.

For this reason, there will be a swimming ban at Krka National Park from January 1, 2021.

However, since humans have coexisted with the river thus far, swimming will be allowed at the following locations: Stinice, Remetić - Pisak and the downstream of the Roški Slap.

Therefore, swimming at Skradinski buk, which was most attractive to visitors, will no longer be allowed.

“The public institution 'Krka National Park', before its 35th birthday, will adopt the most important strategic documents that will determine the path we want to take towards our mature years. What kind of ecosystem we will leave for future generations is our most important task and new regulations have been adopted following it. After many years of deliberation and research, considering the needs of both nature and us, who in one way or another use what Krka has given us, measures have been adopted that will contribute to long-term sustainable management and protecting nature,” said the director of Krka National Park, Nella Slavica, who added:

“The regulations are strongly focused on conserving resources and the richness of biodiversity, whether it concerns regulating visitor numbers, waste disposal, hunting and fishing or deforestation. The manner of using water and public water resources in sub-zones is clearly defined and obliges the users to submit annual work plans following the activities of the Institution.“

The regulations apply to employees of Krka National Park, residents of the National Park, property owners and right holders of real estate in the Park and their family members, natural and legal persons who carry out permitted activities, visitors and other users of the Park space in the area of Krka National Park.

Compared to the old 2011 regulations, the new one also provides a detailed explanation of the Krka National Park zoning, which includes management zones of strict and directional protection, as well as zones of use and subzones of settlements, visitor infrastructure, using natural resources and roads that are under the Management Plan, a 10-year strategy document and a zoning map attached.

"In the strict protection zone, the goal of management is to preserve natural processes and habitats and their components," emphasized the expert director of Krka National Park, Drago Marguš, who explained that “the directional protection zone encompasses non-native ecosystems: grasslands, pastures, aquatic habitats, etc., which for the purpose of long-term conservation require active management measures of maintenance or restoration."

“Active conservation and revitalization measures are allowed in the directional protection zones without which the essential characteristics of the area would be changed. Agricultural activities are allowed by the management objectives for the conservation of biological, geological and landscape values,” emphasized Marguš.

For example, this means that the mowing and traditional grazing of livestock breeds under human control is permitted, except on steep canyon slopes, Skradinski buk and Roški Slap, and visitor infrastructure subzones.

Hunting and fishing, on the other hand, are not permitted activities at the National Park. Because of its geological history, the Krka River is home to endemic fish species, and its banks preserve the habitats of numerous endangered animals. Therefore, it is considered a natural monument of the highest category and should be preserved for the future.

The new regulations, adopted by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy of the Republic of Croatia, were decided on December 21, 2019, which you can read here.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

As Morski writes on the 20th of September, 2019, Croatia's gorgeous Krka National Park and its public institution joined an international volunteer project which puts the environment before everything else.

The cleanup action was held at NP Krka on Friday, September the 20th, 2019 in the area of ​​the settlements of Lozovac, Goriš and Brnjica, near the border of the national park itself, on the left bank of the Krka river.

Employees of the Krka National Park, in cooperation with volunteers from the Association of the Croatian Poetry Branch and the Nature Protection Commission of the Croatian Mountaineering Association, and with the help of the local population, cleared an entire acre of illegal landfill in the surrounding Dalmatian karst. Mostly small and medium-sized items of general household waste, plastic and glass containers, as well as bottles and some construction waste were collected.

The NP Krka cleanup action was a joint daylong action to clean up illegal landfills and marked the largest volunteer eco-project in Croatia, bringing together active citizens and organisations, and is part of a major global action called World Cleanup, which was initially launched over a decade ago, more specifically back in 2008.

The project is based on raising awareness of the importance of responsible waste management for the conservation of our environment, nature and of planet Earth as a whole.

Owing to this international ecological project, millions of people in one hundred and fifty countries across the world have united in the greatest civil action in the history of mankind to cleanse our planet. On September the 21st, volunteers and organisations around the world will continue to collect waste from the planet's beaches, rivers, forests and streets together.

Things will kick off in a country far from Croatian shores - New Zealand, and will eventually come to an end thirty-six hours later in Hawaii. In this action, millions of people will work together to achieve one goal: a cleaner and healthier planet.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more. If you're interested in official and unofficial initiatives in Croatia that work to help protect the environment, give Total Eco Croatia a follow.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 23rd of May, 2019, enjoying nature and the peace of the beautiful little island of Visovac is the main motive of the visitors who come here to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and to be filled with new energy. The peaceful draw of this island on Visovac Lake, between the Roški slap and the Skradinski buk, is something special indeed.

When it comes to the question of just why this unassuming little pearl of the Krka National Park has always been a place for prayer and reflection, or simply a place to take in the vibrant nature, it's best to seek the answer yourself.

Visovac was first settled by the hermits, more specifically deserters of the Order of St. Augustine, who built a smaller monastery and a small church dedicated to St. The apostle Paul on the island, the Franciscans then arrived on the island after their departure.

Since the mid-fifteenth century, the Franciscan monastery and the Church of Our Lady of Visovac have been located there, which together with the natural landscape itself, make for a truly unique little island. The monastery boasts a valuable archaeological collection, as well as a varied collection of historical objects and a valuable library.

The enchanting nature of Visovac Lake and Krka National Park was quickly recognised and valued by producers, and back in the 1960s, this little island was the ideal place, what with its untouched beauty, to play the location at which the Native Americans once lived, depicted in the adventures of Winnetou. Four years ago, there was yet another new trilogy shot at Visovac.

Boats are sailing to Visovac from Stinica and Remetić.

"On Sunday, visitors to the island will enjoy free transport the boats from Stinica and Remetić, but only when the departures for masses leave (09:30/45, 10:00/15, and 10:30/45, and the boats return immediately after the end of the masses). As for the rest of the days, the boats sail to Visovac at their normal price and with the regular cruise line for Krka NP,'' writes Visovac.hr

The National Park organises excursions by boat from Skradinski buk for which its wise to set aside around two hours. A somewhat longer tour lasts for four hours, and it includes the beauty of Skradinski buk and Roški slap, as well as including Visovac. The prices are from 35 to 130 kuna per person, and children get free tickets up until four years of age, reports PunKufer.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

April 27, 2019 - Putting Croatian adventure tourism on the map, with the biggest welcome in the world. Day 35 of this incredible 2011 adrenaline trip covering 2,500 km along the Croatian coast. 

The World's Biggest Welcome, an ambitious adventure tourism project in 2011 in Croatia enters Day 35 of this 2019 appreciation of one of the finest tourism promotion projects ever in Croatia.  

The plan? To showcase the diversity and fabulous offer of adventure tourism in Croatia by following a GPS route the length of the Croatian coast in the shape of the word 'Welcome' - thereby creating the biggest welcome in the world from a hospitable tourism country. 

Day 35 moved from the Dinara to Roški slap (waterfall).

56 kilometres for the day: 6 km on foot from Dinara to the Krčić creek, followed by a 15 km bike ride from the Krčić creek to the Krka river, and 35 km canyoning from the Krka river to the Roški slap to begin forming the ‘O’ in ‘Welcome’.

Day 35 set off towards the highest peak of Croatia, Dinara. 

Lacko was even accompanied by a stray dog!

The wind, however, was anything but light. 

And it was so strong, it turned everything into ice. 

The visibility was worsening. 

The wind even made it hard to move at some points.

And it made their noses bleed. 

They found a path where they could walk relatively normally. 

And finally made it to the highest peak in Croatia. Lacko is holding on so he wouldn't get blown away. The group had to crawl on the ground for almost an hour, and couldn't even lift themselves to go on all fours. When they tried, they were blown away 2-3 meters!

And back down they go.

The dog even survived the Dinara and continued following the group.

They made it to Krčić.

And where the Krčić creek and spring of river Krka meet.

Lacko pedaling alongside the Krčić.

Through Knin and onto Krka.

The Krka river.

A key part of the project was promoting tourism, and the official website has details of the key places visited during the day. 

Krka National Park. 

You can see the entire project on the Welcome website, as well as much more of Luka Tambaca's stunning photography on the Welcome Facebook page. 

Tune in tomorrow for Day 36, as Lacko moves from Roški slap to Primošten.

To follow the whole project from the start, follow the dedicated TCN page. 

Krka National Park has expanded its tourist offer by arranging fourteen cycling routes that connect the most attractive parts of the park. And now, all the benefits of biking within Krka National Park can be discovered in a single place through a new website specializing in cycling tourism - Krka Bike, reports HRTurizam on April 16, 2019. 

The site offers tracks for mountain and road cycling and trekking. All the tracks are circular and detailed, associated with various rest points and viewpoints, and apart from the basic gpx trails, the tracks are also displayed through video animation via the Relive platform. 

"The middle and upper streams of the Krka River are an ideal destination for those who want to spend their vacation actively in untouched nature because of their specific terrain configuration and natural phenomena in the environment. It's all about cyclists - from beginners to recreational to professional - everyone can find a real challenge for themselves,” said NP Krka.

There are a total of five mountain routes, designed for bicyclists with good physical condition and advanced bicycle management skills, and are driven by landscaped and unspoiled forest paths with ascents and descents that can have a higher incline. Road routes are characterized for road sports bikes on high-quality asphalted roads, on routes above the overall total length and different height profiles. They are intended for active athletes looking for physically demanding sports challenges. For active family outings in nature as well as for occasional recreationalists, there are six trekking routes, which combine riding on paved roads and good quality macadam roads, without technically demanding parts.

When planning a bicycle trip at Krka, keep in mind that tickets are charged for the entrance to Skradinski buk, Roški slap, the Krka Monastery and Burnum.

Five promotional videos for cycling tourism at NP Krka were also published on the park’s YouTube channel. You can find the Krka Bike website here. 

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

NP Krka is another one of those ''must visit'' places when in Croatia, and yes, there are many such destinations to be found here. The whole ''must see'' thing has become a little saturated over recent years, especially with the rise of self-proclaimed travel bloggers and social media influencers, however, there is much more to this stunning national park than just the ability to take artistic Instagram pictures.

NP Krka is involving itself in the education of school children in the Dalmatian county in which the park is situated through a praiseworthy project aimed at increasing kids' overall awareness of both protected areas and nature and the environment.

As Morski writes on the 3rd of April, 2019, the highly visited NP Krka actually launched the project "Let's fill up the school libraries" (Popunimo školske knjižnice), for primary and secondary schools of the Šibenik-Knin County back in 2007.

The aim of the project is to make the books published within the framework of this educational scope available to school-age children and other young people, so that they can contribute to their own respective awareness of the country's numerous protected areas and the need to take care of their surroundings, including the importance of the proper preservation of the environment.

Since back in 2007, VHS tapes and later on, DVDs covering a wide array of topics related to NP Krka and its environment and native wildlife and birds have been shared around numerous local schools within the aforementioned county in Dalmatia. In February this year, a total of 49 books were distributed to thirty-six primary and thirteen high schools in the county.

NP Krka's administration and staff believe that this year's gift to local schools will be used by students and their mentors and teachers not only as an additional teaching aid for the classroom but that it will also encourage children to go out and get to know and further explore the rich natural beauty and the cultural heritage of the beautiful NP Krka.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.