national park risnjak
The Risnjak National Park is located in Gorski kotar, the most wooded part of western Croatia. It lies between latitude 45°24' and 45°32' north and longitude 14°33'30" and 14°43'30" east, in the immediate vicinity of the Adriatic Sea, only 15 km north-east from Rijeka. The Park covers an area of 63,5 km2 including the central part of the Risnjak and Snjeznik massif, as well as the upper flow of the river Kupa with its source area.
Risnjak has been for many years the subject of research of various scientists, first of all botanists, then also foresters, meteorologists, geologists, zoologists etc. This long continuity of scientific research made actually way to understanding that this area should become a National Park.
Years of thorough research done by the world known botanist dr. Ivo Horvat with his assistants brought an understanding that a National Park should be organized in this region, which was achieved on September 15th 1953.
Geology of the National Park Risnjak
The complete region of Gorski Kotar including the area of Risnjak National Park, is situated on the Karstic terrain. One of the essential elements for the creation and development at Karstic environment is geological foundation.
On the territory of Risnjak there could be found on one hand limestone and dolomite foundations as representatives of permeable sediment rocks, and on the other hand clay slate stone, sandstone and quartz conglomerate as impermeable layers. In National Park Risnjak you can find major karst features (karren on bare rocks, rock falls, sinkholes, swallow holes, caves etc.).
Flora
Diversity of vegetation is the result of pedological, geological, climatic and anthropological conditions. Climatic influences from the Adriatic Sea penetrating from the nearby Kvarner bay and the continental influences penetrating through the Kupa valley collide here and play a significant role in determining the specific climate of the NP "Risnjak" with pleasantly warm summers and an average temperature up to 20°C, rainy springs an autums, and long, cold snowy winters.
Due Adriatic and continental climatic influence in this small area opposite vegetational influences can be found: the coastal and the continental; the Dinaric and the Alpine.
The greatest part of the Park is covered by an association of beech and fir growing on a limestone and dolomite underground.
The forest of fir with ribbed fern is one of the most important forest communities in Gorski Kotar, both from the natural-history and from the economic aspect. It develops only on a silicate foundation.
Fauna
The animal life of the Park is abundant and rich in variety. The most important animal used to be the lynx (Lynx, Croatian: "ris"), after which Risnjak got its name. The dense forests of Risnjak are inhabited by the brown bear, deer, roe-deer, chamois, wild boar, wolf, fox, pine and stone marten, badger, weasel, squirrel, door-mouse and other animals.
There are numerous bird species living in Risnjak, among which are particularly important: capercaille, grouse, sparrow-hawk and owl. There are also numerous butterflies, insects and snails. Some snakes can also be found, among them the poisonous horned viper and the common ader, as well as the unpoisonous european cat-snake.
Source:NP Risnjak
