Nature Park Velebit

Nature Park Velebit covers an area of 2200 km2 and it is the largest protected area in Croatia. The park is included in the network of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves as part of the Man and the Biosphere program because of its natural values and great significance for the preserving of biological diversity. Velebit is also known as the “center of endemism” because of the multitude of endemic flora and terrestrial fauna. The most famous endem is Velebit degenia, a perennial herbaceous plant from the cabbage family.
Among the forest habitats and large beech forests, there are numerous meadows and pastures that are known as guardians of biological diversity. In addition to beech forests, there are also thermophilic forests, pure mountain beech forests, then mixed beech-fir forests, subalpine beech forests, and black pine forests.
Velebit has an extremely rich fauna. It is a home for animals like brown bears, wolves, otters, lynxes, wild cats as well as martens, badgers, dormice, and foxes. There are also many reptiles, the most famous is the viper and the red snake, protected species of venomous snakes. In addition, there are nesting places for many birds, and 18 species meet the strict conditions of the Ornithological Institute. It is included this area in the European Ecological network Natura 2000, which consists of areas important for the preserving of endangered species and habitats in the European Union.
Nature Park Velebit also hides several caves. The largest are the Cerovačke špilje, divided into Lower, Middle and Upper. They are one of the most important speleological objects in Croatia and one of the largest sites of the extinct cave bear.

There is Zavratnica in the park, one of the most beautiful Croatian bays, which once was a hidden summer resort of the Viennese and Prague elites.
The former active life on Velebit has left numerous monuments and different objects. What is interesting to every visitor are the Velebit historical roads: Karolinska Road; Theresiana, Majstorska Road and Josephina.

Also, there are prehistoric and ancient locations, hill forts, necropolises, old forts, mills and stone cisterns and watering places for livestock.
The beauties of Velebit, natural and cultural heritage, unique lookouts and the richness of karst relief forms are really worth to visiting and experiencing.

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Image source:
http://www.np-sjeverni-velebit.hr/posjeti/okolica/ppvelebit/
https://www.pp-velebit.hr/hr/turisticka-ponuda/uvala-zavratnica