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With its surface area of 96 km2, from the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea to the highest peaks of the Velebit
Mountains, Vaganski Vrh (1757 m) and Sveto
Brdo (1753 m), Paklenica abounds with numerous natural wonders and phenomena, which is why the entire area was proclaimed a national park in 1949. And rightfully so, as this region is simple and unusual in its connection between the sea and the mountains, rich in beech and black pine forests, its deep canyons cut vertically into the Velebit ridge, its karst formations and numerous caves and pits.
The entry to the canyons of Mala and Velika
Paklenica (Small and Large Paklenica) are truly a phenomenon due to their geological and hydrological particularities, the abundant karst, and the wealth of flora and fauna.
The creeks Mala and Velika Paklenica give great value to the entire region, enriching it, and in the spring and autumn, the sheer power of the creeks erodes the limestone walls of the canyons, thus deepening them further every year.
Both the Velika Paklenica Canyon, 14 km long, and Mala
Paklenica Canyon, 12 km long, are deeply cut into the massive south face of the Velebit mountains.
The geological particularities of the National Park are seen in the sharp karst formations in the regions of Bojinac, Vidakov kuk and on the plateau between both canyons. Here, many varying karst formations are visible, from cracks in the limestone, channels, basins, fissures and caves, which arose from the intensive activity of flowing water and from the large temperature differences during individual seasons.
Basins with cracks and channels are particularly well developed in the Bojinac region, where the karst formations were created during glaciations, evident in the numerous moraine deposits.
The park boasts some 70 caves, among which the most spectacular are the Manita
Pec cave and the Vodarica pit. Only the Manita Pec cave is open for viewing.
The water impermeable sediments are located under the porous and layers of carbonate rocks in the extended regions of Velika Paklenica, Brezimenjaca and the source regions of Mala Paklenica and in the temporary flow of the Orljaca
River.
As such, there are several constant and temporary rivers in the Paklenica National Park, and many constant water sources. Sources of drinking water, renowned for their excellent quality, are Strazbenica,
Kontinovo Vrilo, Crno Vrilo, Velika Mocila and Pecica.
The largest sources of Velika Paklenica are the spring Ivine Vodice, at an altitude of 1200 meters, Kontinovo Vrilo (870 m), Crno Vrilo (780 m), and Jukica Vrilo (600 m). Above Ramic is the spring Vratrovac, and the source of the temporary creek Brezimenjaca is at about 1000 meters. At the same altitude is the spring Suhe Drage.
The creek Velika Paklenica usually springs in the region above Anica
luka. It flows over its entire course to its mouth at the sea during the rainy periods in the spring, autumn and winter.
Mala Paklenica springs above Vlaskogradska draga at about 1000 meters above sea level. The creek has a smaller capacity, and depends heavily on the season and precipitation. The creek occasionally sinks and disappears to the creek Orljaca, while in the canyon the creek is active during the rainy autumn and winter seasons and in the early spring, when at an altitude of 484 m it flows into the rapidly flowing Orljaca, which springs under the slopes of Sveto Brdo.
In the region of Velika Mocila, there is the fenced off spring, Staro
Vrilo and several other filter sources. Such springs are also present at Mala Mocila, but only in the damper times of year. In the peak regions of Velebit, standing waters are the lakes below Malovan and in Babino
Jezero below Babin Vrh .
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