Bus from PLITVICE LAKES to DUSSELDORF

Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe and the largest national park in Croatia. The national park is world-famous for its lakes arranged in cascades, and 16 lakes can be seen from the surface.

The national park was founded in 1949 and is situated in the mountainous karst area of central Croatia.

The Plitvice Lakes originate in the south of the park area at the confluence of Bijela Rijeka (English White River) and Crna Rijeka (English Black River). These rivers originate south of the municipality of Plitvički Ljeskovac and unite at one of the bridges in this village.

In 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage register.

The protected area extends over 296.85 square kilometres (73,350 acres). About 90% of this area is part of Lika-Senj County, while the remaining 10% is part of Karlovac County. The lakes are separated into an upper and lower cluster formed by runoff from the mountains, descending from an altitude of 636 to 503 m (2,087 to 1,650 ft) over a distance of some eight km, aligned in a south-north direction. The lakes collectively cover an area of about two square kilometres (0.77 square miles), with the water exiting from the lowest lake forming the Korana River.

The name Plitvice was first mentioned in a written document in 1777 by Dominik Vukasović, the priest of Otočac. This name was designated due to natural phenomena that have created the lakes. Nature formed shallow basins (Croatian pličina or plitvak, plitko means shallow), which have been filled with water. For centuries, water has changed the limestone and thus the landscape of this area.

The overall water body area of the national park is about 2 km2 (0.77 sq mi). The two largest lakes, Prošćansko jezero and Kozjak, cover about 80 percent of the overall water body area. These lakes are also the deepest, with a depth of 37 and 47 metres (121 and 154 ft) respectively. On Lake Kozjak, low-noise and ecologically-friendly electric boats are being used. None of the other lakes in the park exceeds 25 metres (82 feet) in depth. The altitude drop from the first lake to the last is 133 metres (436 feet).

The 16 lakes that can be seen from the surface are grouped into the 12 Upper Lakes (Gornja jezera) and the four Lower Lakes (Donja jezera).

The Plitvice Lakes national park is heavily forested, mainly with beech, spruce, and fir trees, and features a mixture of Alpine and Mediterranean vegetation. It has a notably wide variety of plant communities, due to its range of microclimates, differing soils and varying levels of altitude.

Scientists have so far listed 1,267 different plants out of 109 species that can be found within the area of the national park. 75 plants are endemic, which means that they have first been defined and classified in this area of the world or not far from it.

For reasons of the poor industrial development of this region and early introduced protection measures, a nearly untouched landscape has been preserved. In the partially primeval beech and fir forests various rare species, such as the brown bear have survived. At the Plitvice Lakes, all species continue to exist that have already existed before the coming of man. This is a rare case worldwide.

Dusseldorf

The Rhine City is a popular destination for city-dwellers, especially among young people. During the summer time, Düsseldorf captivates with its beautiful Rhine river promenade and in winter with the Christmas markets. Among the following popular attractions in Dusseldorf you will find other attractions that give the special charm to the city.

The Rhine Tower: Dusseldorf's landmark is the Rhine Tower, which can be seen from both sides of the Rhine and from afar. With 240.50 meters it is the tallest building in the city and the tenth television tower in the Federal Republic. Built from 1978 to 1982, the Rhine Tower is now the carrier of radio and VHF antennas and serves as a viewing platform at the same time. The largest digital clock in the world is located on its side facing the old town. Another special feature are the panoramic windows of the tower, which allow the direct view of the tower.

The Rhine promenade: On the weekend, the promenade on the banks of the river Rhine becomes a pedestrian mile. In numerous restaurants you can taste the Rhinish cuisine and watch the hustle and bustle on the Uferstraße. The Freitreppe on the Burgplatz is also a place to relax. The Rhine promenade became popular in 1990. The design of the promenade has already received numerous awards, among others in the year 1998 with the Deutsche Städtebaupreis. The lakeside promenade is also the venue for some annual events such as the Dusseldorf Marathon, or the large fireworks on the occasion of the Dusseldorf fairgrounds. Only a few steps away is the Old Town of Dusseldorf, also a popular attraction for locals and visitors to Düsseldorf.

The Königsallee: The Königsallee in Dusseldorf's inner city is one of the most famous luxury shopping destinations in Europe. The numerous cafes, shopping malls, shops and jeweleries are the main attraction of Dusseldorf and visitors from all over the world come here. Located directly on the river Düssel, you can stroll and relax here. Already built in 1804 as a promenade on the eastern city wall, the Königsallee was already a favorite boulevard and celebrated its 210th anniversary last year. Today, Kö, as it is also called, is also a popular venue. Every year there are literary festivals, running events and a place where some carnival walks take place.

The Media Harbour: The Rhine determines the cityscape and cultural life of the city. At Düsseldorf Media Harbour, over the past twenty years, an architecturally attractive area has been created. Used as a commercial and inland port before 1990, the harbour is now the home of many renowned media companies, which earned it the name Media Harbour. Renowned tenants are Antenne Düsseldorf, the WDR and the film and media foundation NRW. Since the 2000s there are also some shops and around 40 restaurants, cafés and clubs. Despite the 600 companies located here, Media Harbour is the most sparsely populated area in Düsseldorf, with just under 100 inhabitants. However, a planned residential development is intended to change this fact. Also worth seeing is the Landtag building as well as already-mentioned the Rhine tower, which is located in the eastern part of the harbor.

The Old Town: Although the second smallest district of Dusseldorf, the old city is one of the most popular places in the city. During the day, attractions such as the Hofgarten, the town hall and the adjacent Rhine river invite visitors wander through the old town. In the evening it becomes a party of celebrations. More than 300 pubs, restaurants and clubs can be found on half a square kilometer. The many festivals gave the old town the nickname "the longest bar in the world". A must for a short visit to Dusseldorf  is the visit of the house brewery "Zum Uerige" near the Rhine. Also in the historical district are the market square and the castle tower.

The Benrath Castle: The castle of Benrath was commissioned in 1773 by the Elector Karl Theodor of the Palatinate as a widow's seat of the Electress. The leading architect was Nicolas de Pigage, the architect of numerous Baroque buildings and castles. In addition to the pleasure castle, the castle grounds also include the hunting park, some ponds and a canal system. The castle now houses the Museum of European Gardening, a Natural History Museum and the Stiftung Castle und Park Benrath. Tickets are available for 9 euros, with an ocassional discount 6 euros.

The Wildpark Düsseldorf: There is a number green areas in Dusseldorf, but the most popular of all of them is the Wildpark in the Grafenberger Wald. The entrance to the Wildpark is free of charge all year round. The enclosure, already built in 1927, now covers 40 hectares, with around 100 animals. In addition to wild boars, visitors can admire red-breasted and muffled deer in the naturally-arranged enclosures. Other inhabitants are pheasants, partridges and raccoons. Additional attractions in the Düsseldorfer Wildpark are the Waldlehrpfad and the many hiking trails around the large area.