Bus from PLITVICE LAKES to NIŠ

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.

Niš is the 3rd largest city in Serbia and the administrative center of the Nišava District in southern Serbia. Nis Airport Constantine the Great is located 4 km northwest of the center city. The biggest tourist attractions in Nis are Nis Fortress, an archeological site from the late Roman period called “Mediana” and Skull Tower. Nis is famous for its rich cultural heritage and history.

The main bus station Niš is located in the street of February 12^th Bulevar, near the green market and Nis Fortress. From the city of Nis is away for about 10 minutes of walk. Bus station belongs to the second category of stations. It has many facilities: kiosk, telephone booths, ATMs, restaurants, cafes, exchange office, bathroom, and cloakroom. There are 18 covered platforms. Near the bus station, there are hotels "Grand Hotel Niš," "The Regent Club," "SOLE," and hostels "Sweet," "Happy" and "Sponsor."

Considering that the bus company "Nis Express" operates a bus station, at the box office can be bought tickets only for the departure of this company. Bus tickets for departures of other bus companies can be bought in their offices, which are located near the main bus station.

Service price is not unique because it depends on the destination, that is planned mileage.

Directly next to the bus station pass city lines 3, 9, 12, and 34 (circle line). Line 34 reaches the Main Railroad Station (direction A) and the Airport (the direction B). The center of Nis can be reached by line 3.

Important information:

Bus station Niš

Address: Bulevar 12th Februar bb

Telephone number for information: +381 (0) 18 255 177, +381 (0) 18 255 666

E-mail: marketing@nis-ekspres.rs

Web site: www.nis-ekspres.rs