Farmland and unspoiled nature at the gates of Zagreb
The two continental regions, proud of their mountains, have their own ski slopes, located near Sljeme, Ogulin or Bilogora. The valleys and plains, with their many rivers, rapids and lakes, are home to prehistoric caves such as those of the Krapina, where an important deposit of human bones dating back to the Neanderthal era of man, who lived there 125,000 years ago, has been discovered.
Since then, Zagreb's development has accelerated! It is the largest city in the country and the only one with county status (comitat). To the north of the capital, the regions of Zagorje and Varaždin were already known to the Romans for their rich hot springs. Today, the spas of Stubičke Toplice, Krapina or Tuheljske Toplice still benefit from these healing properties.
Slavonia - not to be confused with Slovenia! - is bounded by the alluvial plains of the Drava, Sava and Danube rivers. This region is regularly subjected to the whims of its more or less unpredictable rivers, which flood huge areas, marshes with rich biodiversity, classified as natural parks (Kopački Rit and Lonjsko Polje). On arable land, with fertile clay soil, large fields of wheat, barley, corn and sugar beets are cultivated, as well as vineyards. A land of legends, appreciated by tourists for its superb castles and wine routes.
To the west, other plains extend towards Sisak, as far as Kordun and the Žumberak mountains in Karlovac County. This city of four rivers has taken advantage of ecotourism in the aquatic environment. The areas bounded by the triangle of Karlovac, Rijeka and Knin include mountain landscapes (Gorski Kotar, Risnjak) and Plitvice Lakes National Park, the most visited site in Croatia, famous for its high altitude lakes and spectacular waterfalls.
The Karst Highlands of the Lika, located between the Velebit and Dinara mountain ranges, form the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Limestone rock has been eroded by water, creating all kinds of amazing geological phenomena. Thus the dolines, these giant holes, due to the impressive subsidence of the ground, which often appear in groups (ouvala) and form chasms, lakes, lapiaz and other caves.Istria and Kvarner share their natural heritage
Istria covers a peninsula at the western end of Croatia, close to Italy and Slovenia. Nicknamed the Tuscany of Croatia, the region lies at the foot of the Alps and borders the Adriatic in a combination of coastal areas, archipelagos and hilly hinterland with picturesque hilltop villages. Istria shares, on its west coast, a wide bay which gave its name to the Kvarner region. In the centre of this coastal sea, Rijeka was built, the first port and the third Croatian city. The gulf opens to several large islands, Krk, Cres, Lošinj and Rab. Administratively, Krk and Cres constitute the fourth largest Croatian region, named Istrie-Primorje. In the Ucka Nature Park, in the north-east, along the Dinaric Alps, the mountain remains very present, coupled with the mighty Velebit, which accompanies us from Rijeka to Makarska on the magisterial national road.
The real South Croatia is Dalmatia!
In the ancient Roman Empire, the province of Dalmatia stretched along the Adriatic coast from the west coast of Istria to the ancient port of Ulcinj (Montenegro). Already this common feature is asserting itself: high altitude vegetation, Mediterranean atmosphere for the coast and islands with fruit tree crops (olive trees, fig trees, lemon trees, almond trees), vineyards or semi-desert landscapes
Today, for its Croatian part, Dalmatia stretches more than 350 km from the island of Pag and the river Zrmanja, neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina, to the peninsula of Prevlaka. The region is closed off to the east by the Dinaric Alps chain, which closely borders the coastal towns and villages, ports and Dalmatian seaside resorts
Around Šibenik, Dubrovnik, Zadar and Split (the country's second largest city), the four counties provide tourists with a good basis for a land and sea holiday. Full days can be spent in the Paklenica National Park (canyon), Špilja Caves Modrič, Krka Waterfalls, Biokovo, the mighty 1,762-metre-high Velebit Mountain (Sveti Jure). The locals describe its dual nature as "feet in the water, head in the lightning"
In Dalmatia, there are three sub-regions, each with superb marine sites, often protected but threatened by pollution throughout the Mediterranean. North Dalmatia, the islands Losinj, Dugi Otok and its salt lake Telašćica, the Kornati archipelago; the busy central Dalmatia, opposite Split, the island of Brač and its famous beach Zlatni rat, Hvar, the islets Pakleni, Vis, Biševo and, finally, South Dalmatia, with the peninsula of Pelješac, the islands Elaphites, Korcula, Mljet.
For a comparison of the different geographical maps of the country (relief, regional divisions, infrastructure, transport): www.croatietourisme.com/geographie/
