Rivers

The Korana river is a synonym of a river with the most beautiful spring in the world. Its source is the end of the Plitvice Lakes, the oldest and most famous National park in Croatia and the water plunging down the Great waterfall (Veliki slap) merging in the gorge called Sastavci. The river officially starts from that gorge with bustling water and its total length until it ends in the Kupa river in Karlovac is 134.2 kilometres.

The origin of the name of this one of the most beautiful and purest rivers is not known. It is believed that the word ‘Korana’ is derived from the word ‘kora’ (plant), while others think that it marks the water flowing from the hill (‘gora’) ‘Gorana’.

Even though only 6.5 kilometres long, the Slunjčica river is a pearl of the Croatian karst. Due to its extraordinary landscape value, Slunjčica was protected in the significant landscape category in 1964. A subsequent evaluation established the importance of Slunjčica with regard to biodiversity preservation so that it was included in the National Ecological Network and the proposal of EU NATURA 2000 ecological network. Slunjčica is one of few rivers in which creeping celery was found, a plant species connected to water habitats and mentioned in the European Habitats Directive. The Slunjčica river springs in the village of Slušnica, originally of the same name according to which it had been named, but due to migration and disappearance of the village and construction of the military polygon by the Yugoslav National Army, the river’s name was changed into Slunjčica.

The Mrežnica river is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Croatian interior. The reason therefore is its almost surreal beauty and extraordinary purity.

It originates near Slunj and flows into the Korana river near Karlovac. The total length of the river is 64 kilometres and is decorated by 93 travertine barriers and tens of waterfalls and cascades. The constant exchange of waterfalls and elongated lakes in the shallow karst ambient, rich in greenery, makes an exceptionally attractive and dynamic landscape. Some think that it is this series of connected lakes that reminds of the mesh network from which its name, Mrežnica, was also derived.

The Glina river flows through Croatia and only in a small part (12.5 km long) does it flow along the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Glina river is a tributary of the Kupa river springing 5 kilometres east of Slunj. What is particularly interesting is its flow downstream of the town of Glina all the way to its mouth into the Kupa river. It is suitable for vacation, bathing, fishing and various other activities. In summer months, it is relatively shallow and warm and there are no major rapids or waterfalls, which makes it safe for visitors.