Abstract
The Plitvice Lakes where the first place in Europe to be included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List as a phenomenon that is created primarily by water. The main phenomenon of the National Park is a series of barrage lakes created by the growth of tufa barriers on the old riverbed of the Korana River. In addition, the highest waterfall in Croatia, 78 m high Veliki slap Waterfall is one of the main attractions. In this chapter, main hydrological, hydrogeological and hydromorphological characteristics of the Plitvice Lakes National Park are presented. Basic climatological components are analysed following data on groundwater storage and circulation. Final part of the chapter is dedicated to surface water, i.e. streams and lakes of the Plitvice Lakes area, their basic hydrological characteristics and hydromorphological status according to the Water Framework Directive.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anthropol.prot (2006) Final report: study of anthropogenic pollution after the war and establishing of measures for protection of Plitvice National Park and Bihać Region, Contract No. ICA2-2-CT-2002-10009-AnTHROPOL.PROT. In: The 5th FP of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities, INCO Copernicus-2, Bruxeless. http://www.irb.hr/en/research/projects/intl/euprojects/ICA2/
Babinka S (2007) Multi-tracer study of karst waters and lake sediments in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina: Plitvice Lakes National Park and Bihać Area. PhD Dissertation, Bonn, Germany, p 167
Bahun S (1978) Model razvoja hidrogeologije nekih polja u Dinarskom kršu. Zbornik radova 9. kongresa geologa Jugoslavije. Sarajevo 2:855–861
Bencetić Klaić Z, Rubinić J, Kapelj S (2018) Review of research on Plitvice Lakes, Croatia in the fields of meteorology, climatology, hydrology, hydrogeochemistry and physical limnology. Geofizika 35. https://doi.org/10.15233/gfz.2018.35.9
Beraković M (2005) Hidrološka istraživanja (Bilanca voda Plitvičkih jezera). Hrvatska Vodoprivreda 156:59–63
Biondić B, Goatti V (1976) Regionalna hidrogeološka istraživanja Like i Hrvatskog primorja (in Croatian). Archive of the HGI-CGS, Zagreb
Biondić B (1982) Hidrogeologija Like i južnog dijela Hrvatskog primorja. PhD thesis (in Croatian). Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, p 214
Biondić B, Zojer H, Yehdegho B et al (2008) Mountainous lakes: sustainable utilization of water in the pilot area Plitvice Lakes, Final report. Varaždin (Croatia)—Graz (Austria)—Plitvice Lakes (Croatia). Archive of the Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Zagreb, Varaždin
Biondić B, Biondić R, Meaški H (2009) Zaštita vodnih resursa u nacionalnom parku Plitvička jezera/Protection of the water resoursec in the national park Plitvice lakes. (u Zborniku radova Znanstveno-stručnog skupa NP Plitvička jezera, JU NP Plitvučka jezera, Plitvička jezera, pp 82–102
Biondić B, Biondić R, Meaški H (2010) The conceptual hydrogeological model of the Plitvice Lakes. Geol Croat 63:195–206. https://doi.org/10.4154/gc.2010.17
Biondić R, Biondić B, Rubinić J et al (2013) Quality and quantity status and risk assessment of groundwater bodies in the karst areas of Croatia. In: Maloszewski P, Witczak S, Malina G (eds) Groundwater quality sustainability. IAH Selected papers on Hydrogeology, vol 17, pp 163–171
Bočić N (2009) Plitvička jezera - tamo gdje voda prkosi kršu, https://geografija.hr/plitvicka-jezera-tamo-gdje-voda-prkosi-krsu/. Assessed 1 April 2021
Bonacci O (2000) Hydrology (In: Karst Ecosystem Conservation), Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning, Zagreb, Croatia
Bonacci O (2013a) Zabrinjavajući hidrološki trendovi na Plitvičkim jezerima. Hrvatske Vode 21(84):137–146
Bonacci O (2013b) Zabrinjavajući hidrološki trend u slivu Plitvičkih jezera - Dodatak. Hrvatske Vode 21(85):243
Clark I, Fritz P (1997) Environmental isotopes in hydrogeology. Lewis Publishers, Roca Raton, p 328
Coutagne A (1954) Quelques considérations sur le pouvoir évaporant de l’atmosphère, le déficit d’écoulement effectif et le déficit d’écoulement maximum. La Houille Blanche 6:360–369
Croatian waters (2013) MEANDER - Vodič za hidromorfološki monitoring i ocjenu stanja rijeka u Hrvatskoj. Zagreb, p 90
Croatian Waters (2016) Metodologija za monitoring i ocjenjivanje hidromorfoloških pokazatelja. Zagreb, p 26
Čanjevac I (2013) Typology of discharge regimes of rivers in Croatia. Hrvatski Geografski Glasnik 75:23–42
Čanjevac I, Bočić N, Martinić I et al (2021) Hidromorfološka studija potoka Plitvica (Hydromorphological study of the Plitvica Stream), Final report. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Zagreb
Dešković I, Pedišić M, Marušić R et al (1981) Značaj, svrha i neki rezultati hidrokemijskih, hidroloških i sanitarnih istraživanja površinskih i podzemnih voda Nacionalnog parka Plitvička Jezera (in Croatian). Vodoprivreda 13(69–71):7–19
Dešković I, Marušić R, Pedišić M et al (1984) Neki najnoviji rezultati hidrokemijsko-hidroloških istraživanja voda na području Plitvičkih Jezera (in Croatian). Vodoprivreda 16(88–89):221–227
Dimitrijević M (1982) Dinarides—an outline of the tectonics. Earth Evol Sci 1:4–23
DHMZ: https://meteo.hr. Assessed on 1 April 2021
EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), 2000/60/EC (2000), European Comission, p 72
Fontes JCH (1980) Environmental isotopes in groundwater hydrology. In: Fritz R, Fontes JCH (eds) Handbook of environmental isotope geochemistry. The terrestrial environment, vol 1. Elsevier, pp 75–140
Franić D (1910) Plitvička jezera i njihova okolica. Vlastita autorova naklada, Zagreb
Garbrecht J, Fernandez GP (1994) Visualization of trends and fluctuations in climatic records. Water Resour Bull 30:297–306
Gat JR, Carmi I (1970) Evolution of the isotopic composition of atmospheric waters in the Mediterranean Sea area. J Geophys Res 75:3039–3048
Gavazzi A (1919) Prilozi za limnologiju Plitvica. Prirodoslovna Istraživanja Hrvatske i Slavonije, JAZU 14:3–37
Geyh MA (2000) Groundwater–Saturated and unsaturated zone. In: Mook WG (ed) Environmental isotopes in the hydrological cycle, principles and applications, vol IV. UNESCO and IAEA, p 200
Građevinski fakultet u Rijeci (2019) Monitoring i analiza dinamike erozije sedrenih barijera na Milinom jezeru, Rijeka
Guidance standard on determining the degree of modification of river hydromorphlogy (2010), CEN 1584:2010, p 26
Guidance standard on determining the hydromorphological conditions of lakes (2017), CEN 16870:2017, p 52
Herak M (1962) Tektonska osnova hidrogeoloških odnosa u izvornim područjima Kupe i Korane – s Plitvičkim jezerima (in Croatian). Referati V. savetovanja geologa FNR Jugoslavije. Beograd 3:17–25
Herak M (1986) A new concept of geotectonics of the dinarides. Acta Geol 16:1–42
Herak M (1991) Dinaridi – mobilistički osvrt na genezu i strukturu. Acta Geol 21(2):35–117
Horvatinčić N, Krajcar-Bronić N, Pezdić J et al (1986) The distribution of radioactive (3H, 14C) and stable (2H, 18O) isotopes in precipitation, surface and groundwaters of NW Yugoslavia. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res B17:550–553
Korbar T (2009) Orogenic evolution of the external Dinarides in the NE Adriatic region: a model constrained by tectonostratigraphy of Upper Cretaceous to Paleogene carbonates. Earth-Sci Rev 96:296–312
Krajcar-Bronić I, Horvatinčić N, Srdoč D et al (1986) On the initial 14C activity of karst aquifers with short mean residence time. Radiocarbon 28:436–440
Kuhta M (2010) Vodoistražni radovi u cilju zaštite izvora Krbavica – II. faza (in Croatian). Archive of the HGI-CGS, Zagreb
Makjanić B (1958) Prilog klimatografiji područja Plitvičkih jezera. In: Šafar J (ed) Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera, Poljoprivredni nakladni zavod, Zagreb, pp 357–390
Martinić I, Čanjevac I, Vučković I et al (2019) Hydromorphological status of natural lakes in Croatia. In: Biondić D, Holjević D, Vizner M (eds) Proceedings of 7th Croatian water conference with international participation, Opatija, pp 321–330
Meaški H (2011) Model zaštite krških vodnih resursa na primjeru Nacionalnog parka ’Plitvička jezera‘(Model of the karst water resources protection on the example of the Plitvice Lakes National Park). PhD thesis (in Croatian). Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, p 211
Meaški H, Biondić B, Biondić R (2016) Delineation of the Plitvice Lakes karst catchment area, Croatia. In: Stevanović Z, Krešić N, Kukurić N (eds) Karst without Boundaries. IAH Selected papers No. 23. CRC Press/Balkema, pp 269–283
Meyer AF (1915) Computing Runoff from rainfall and other physical data, transactions. Am Soc Civil Eng 79:1055–1155
Mihaljević Z, Plenković-Moraj A, Kerovec M et al (2013) Studija testiranja bioloških metoda ocjene ekološkog stanja u jezerima dinaridske ekoregije. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Zagreb, p 358
National habitat map (Karta staništa) (2016) Zavod za zaštitu okoliša i prirode, Ministarstvo gospodarstva i održivog razvoja, WMS server. http://envi-metapodaci.azo.hr/geonetwork/srv/hrv/catalog.search#/metadata/be00a8ed-74f4-4558-9582-f0bc50b5daa4
Pamić J, Gušić I, Jelaska V (1998) Geodynamic evolution of the Central Dinarides. Tectonophysics 297:251–268
Pardé M (1933) Fleuves et Rivières. Armand Colin, Paris, p 224
Petrik M (1958) Prinosi hidrologiji Plitvica. In: Šafar J (ed) Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera. Poljoprivredni nakladni zavod, Zagreb, pp 49–173
Pevalek I (1935) Der Travertin und die Plitvice Seen. Internationale Vereinigung Für Theoretische Und Angewandte Limnologie Verhandlungen 7:165–181
Pevalek I (1958) Biodinamika Plitvičkih jezera i njena zaštita, In: Šafar J (ed) Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera, Poljoprivredni nakladni zavod, Zagreb, pp 275–293
Plitvice lakes National Park Management Plan 2019–2028 (Management Plan) (2019) Plitvice Lakes National Park Public Institution, p 358
Polšak A (1969) Geološka karta Plitvičkih jezera, M 1: 50 000. Archive of the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Kartografski laboratorij Geodetskog fakulteta
Polšak A, Šparica M, Crnko J et al (1967) Osnovna geološka karta SFRJ M 1:100000, list Bihać, L 33–116. Archive of the HGI-CGS, Zagreb
Polšak A, Juriša M, Šparica M et al (1976) Osnovna geološka karta SFRJ 1:100.000, list Bihać. Institut za geološka istraživanja, Zagreb, Savezni geološki zavod, Beograd
Radišić M, Rubinić J, Brozinčević A et al (2019) Vodni sustav Plitvičkih jezera – Recentni hidrološki međuodnosi i utjecaji. In: Biondić D, Holjević D, Vizner M (eds) Proceedings of 7th Croatian water conference with international participation, Opatija, pp 201–210
Riđanović J (1989) Prvi rezultati suvremenih hidroloških mjerenja na Plitvičkim jezerima. Geografski Glasnik 51(1):129–134
Riđanović J (1993) Hidrogeografija. 2nd ed., Školska knjiga, Zagreb, p 215
Rubinić J, Zwicker G, Dragičević N (2008) Doprinos poznavanju hidrologije Plitvičkih jezera – dinamika kolebanja razine jezera i značajne promjene. In: Ožanić N (ed) Zbornik radova Savjetovanje “Hidrološka mjerenja i obrada podataka”, Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera 26. – 28. studeni 2008., Građevinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka, pp 207–229
Rubinić J, Zwicker Kompar G (2009) Hidrologija sustava Plitvičkih jezera i gornjeg toka Korane – praćenja, spoznaje i izazovi / Hydrology of Plitvice lakes system and upper part of Korana river – monitoring, cognitions and challengers. In: Dujmović A (ed) Zbornik radova Znanstveno-stručnog skupa NP Plitvička jezera, JU NP Plitvička jezera, Plitvička jezera, pp 46–59
Stichler W, Herrmann A (1983) Application of environmental isotope techniques in water balance studies of small basins. In: Van der Beken A, Hrerrmann A (eds) New approaches in water balance computations, IAHS, 148, Hamburg, pp 93–112
Turc L (1953) Le bilan d’eau des sols: relations entre les précipitations, l’évaporation et l’écoulement. Journées De L’hydraulique 3–1:36–44
Turc L (1954) Calcul du bilan de l’eau. Evaluation en fonction des precipitations et des temperatures. In: Tonini M et al (eds): IAHS Assemblee generale de Rome/General Assembly, 1954, Eaux de surface/surface waters, Red Book no. 38, Wallingford, UK, pp 188–202
Velić I, Bahun S, Sokač B et al (1970) Osnovna geološka karta SFRJ, M 1:100000, list Otočac, L 33–115. Archive of the HGI-CGS, Zagreb
Vučković I, Čanjevac I, Plantak M et al (2019a) Nabava hidromorfoloških podataka za potrebe interkalibracije bioloških metoda ocjene ekološkog stanja na rijekama (Hydromorphological data for the intercalibration of biological methods for the evaluation of ecological status of rivers). Final report (in Croatia), Elektroprojekt Consulting Engineers and University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Zagreb
Vučković I, Čanjevac I, Bočić N et al (2019b) Razvoj metodologije za ocjenu hidromorfološkog stanja u stajaćicama i provedba hidromorfološkog monitoringa (Development of the methodology for the assessment of the hydromorphological status of lakes and introduction of hydromorphological monitoring). Final report (in Croatian), Elektroprojekt Consulting Engineers and University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Zagreb
Zwicker G, Rubinić J (2005) Water level fluctuations as an indicator of tufa barrier growth dynamics in the Plitvice Lakes. RMZ—Mater Geoenviron 52:161–163
Žugaj R (2000) Hidrologija. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Zagreb
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Čanjevac, I., Martinić, I., Radišić, M., Rubinić, J., Meaški, H. (2023). Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Hydromorphology of the Plitvice Lakes Area. In: Miliša, M., Ivković, M. (eds) Plitvice Lakes. Springer Water. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20378-7_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20378-7_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-20377-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-20378-7
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)