Una National Park
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Una National Park | |
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Nacionalni park Una / Национални парк Уна | |
![]() System of number of waterfalls and cascades on the Una River in National Park Una at Martin Brod, Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
Location | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Nearest city | Bihać |
Coordinates | 44°29′42.96″N 16°08′05.96″E / 44.4952667°N 16.1349889°E |
Area | 198 km2 (76 sq mi) |
Established | 2008 |
Governing body | Javno preduzeće Nacionalni park Una, Bihać |
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Una National Park (Bosnian: Nacionalni park Una / Национални парк Уна) was established on 29 May 2008 around the rivers Upper Una River, Krka and the Unac. It is Bosnia and Herzegovina's largest national park. The main purpose of the park is to protect the unspoiled Una river and its tributaries Krka and Unac, which run through it.[1]
Geography
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Una_Gorge_Kulen_Vakuf.jpg/200px-Una_Gorge_Kulen_Vakuf.jpg)
Protection zone of the National Park is 198 km2 (76 sq mi), and stretches on the western side from the source of the Krka river and its course to the confluence with the Una on the state border of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Croatia from where park border follows the Una and state border to the town of Martin Brod and confluence with the Unac. On the eastern side border of the park goes from the entrance of the Unac River into its canyon, few kilometers downstream from town of Drvar, and follows the Unac and its canyon all the way to the confluence with the Una in town of Martin Brod. From there park border follows the Una on the right and state border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia on the left, until it reach a small town of Ripač, few kilometers upstream from town of Bihać. National park Una areal distribution is within following geographic coordinates:
- northernmost point: 44°44′33″N 15°57′58″E / 44.74250°N 15.96611°E (inhabited settlement Podastrana)
- southernmost point: 44°21′02″N 16°13′05″E / 44.35056°N 16.21806°E (hill Gradina 676 metres (2,218 ft))
- westernmost point: 44°43′46″N 15°54′12″E / 44.72944°N 15.90333°E (hill 509 metres (1,670 ft))
- easternmost point: 44°23′46″N 16°20′42″E / 44.39611°N 16.34500°E (locality Vrtočke Bare English: Vrtočke Marshes)
Waters
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Una_Unac_Confluence.jpg/200px-Una_Unac_Confluence.jpg)
The Una's waterfalls and white water rapids highlight the park. The most famous waterfalls are those at Martin Brod, where the popular "International Una Regatta" kayaking competition begins, and Štrbački Buk further downstream. Throughout the park, visitors can enjoy prime conditions for rafting, fishing, cycling, hiking, and camping. Jumping from the city bridges in Bihać and Bosanska Krupa is also popular. Largest waterfall on the Una river is Štrbački Buk, and is one of the main feature in the Park.
Biology
Una National Park is also noted for its biodiversity, with 30 fish species, 130 bird species, and other animals, including lynx, fox, wolf, bear and chamois.
History
Area of the park has rich cultural-historic heritage and numerous archaeological sites, many dating from the prehistoric period. Significant historical and cultural heritage of the area within and outside the park zone are the Roman fort Milančeva Kula, Rmanj Monastery, medieval fortress Ostrovica above Kulen Vakuf, as well as outside the park zone Sokolačka Kula fortress in Sokolac village near Bihać and Ostrožac Castle between Bihać and Bosanska Krupa.
Peace Park Plitvice-Una
Proximity to Plješivica mountain virgin forest, which stretches between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, and Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park makes Una National Park a top destination for visitors. More importantly, all of the facts about these two National Parks, their proximity, natural, cultural and historical richness, brings out the possibility and makes viable idea of joint management and promotion.[2]
The Plitvice Lakes National Park has been inhabited by strong conquerors that lived centuries ago, including Celts, Romans or Ottomans. Nowadays, the park, which occupies nearly 297 square kilometers, is protected by law and for good reason.
While there is a large number of sightseeing objectives in this area, most tourists come to watch the 16 interconnected lakes linked to one another by a series of rivers and spectacular waterfalls. Ever since the 19th century, when locals began building hotels here, tourists were given the chance of walking over rivers and woods on specially designed bridges.
One of the most beautiful objectives here, Veliki Slap, is the tallest waterfall in Croatia; as tourists admit, watching the water coming from the Plitvice stream and falling down on the 78 meters high rocks covered in plants is, indeed, a unique experience.[3]
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Sources
- "Zakon o Nacionalnom parku "Una"". Službene novine Federacije BiH (in Bosnian). August 2008. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
References
- ^ "NP Una - Zakon Vlade Federacije BiH za 2008 / LAW on National Park "Una" - "Official Gazette of the Federation of BiH" No. 47/08". www.fbihvlada.gov.ba (in Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian). Government of the Federation of BiH. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ "Peace Park Plitvice-Una: New Bridge between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia". newsvine.com. 2011. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
- ^ "Plitvice Lakes National Park". I Love Traveling. Retrieved 2016-11-08.