Paklenica is the combined name for two canyons (Velika and Mala Paklenica - the most beautiful part of the Velebit massif, which UNESCO has declared a part of the World Biosphere Reserve) with cliffs up to 400m high, rising sharply from the sea to just below the highest peaks and extending vertically in the direction of the mountain.
There are numerous interesting and unusual natural phenomena where the mountains meet the sea, in the steep-sided, deep canyons of the piedmont valley that follows the line of the main ridge of Velebit. The primordial nature arouses people’s curiosity and inspires visitors. Paklenica National Park is Croatia’s most famous alpine centre and is well-known even abroad.
In 1949, the area was declared a national park. Today, Paklenica National Park is one of the most attractive natural, scientific and tourist regions in the north-eastern Mediterranean. The rich and diverse array of flora and fauna (with many endemic species, like the Griffon vulture), the numerous karst phenomena (like Manita Cave), as well as the wide range of sporting activities (free-climbing, trekking, picnicking day trips to the Lugarnica forest hut, a tour of a mill and learning about how it works) attract all sorts of visitors.
