Plitvička Jezera ( or just ''Plitvice'' ; ''Plitvice Lakes'', in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

) is a municipality (''općina'') in central

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = " Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capi ...

, in the eastern part of the

Lika-Senj county Lika-Senj County (, hr, Ličko-senjska županija) is a county in Croatia that includes most of the Lika region and some northern coastline of the Adriatic near the town of Senj, including the northern part of the Pag island. Its center is ...

, that lies in and near the eponymous

Plitvice Lakes National Park Plitvice Lakes National Park ( hr, Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera, colloquially ''Plitvice'', ) is one of the oldest and largest national parks in Croatia. In 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage lis ...

, bisected by the D1 main road (

Zagreb Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slop ...

–

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, entertai ...

). Its total area is 539.08 km² The main town and seat of the municipality is

Korenica Korenica is a village in Lika, Croatia, located in the municipality of Plitvička Jezera, on the D1 road between Plitvice and Udbina. According to 2011 census it has 1,766 residents. It is the seat of the Plitvička Jezera Municipality. In ...

. Smaller towns and villages are Bjelopolje, Jezerce, and Ličko Petrovo Selo.

Demographics

According to the 2001 census, its total population was 4,668. The ethnic composition of Plitvička Jezera was 67.3%

Croat The Croats (; hr, Hrvati ) are a South Slavic ethnic group who share a common Croatian ancestry, culture, history and language. They are also a recognized minority in a number of neighboring countries, namely Austria, the Czech Republic, Ge ...

and 30.5%

Serb The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian ancestry, culture, history and language. The majority of Serbs live in their na ...

. In the 2011 census, the population dropped to 4,373, of which 70.11% were

Croats The Croats (; hr, Hrvati ) are a South Slavic ethnic group who share a common Croatian ancestry, culture, history and language. They are also a recognized minority in a number of neighboring countries, namely Austria, the Czech Republic ...

and 27.08% were

Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of ...

. The settlements in the municipality are: * Bjelopolje, population 114 * Čanak, population 53 * Čujića Krčevina, population 8 * Donji Babin Potok, population * Donji Vaganac, population 61 *

Drakulić Rijeka Drakulić is a Christian Serbian surname, derived from the Romanian words ''Dracul'' and ''Dracula'', and may refer to: * Saša Drakulić (born 1972), Serbian footballer * Slavenka Drakulić Slavenka Drakulić (born July 4, 1949) is a Croatian ...

, population 9 * Gornji Babin Potok, population * Gornji Vaganac, population 125 * Gradina Korenička, population 82 *

Homoljac Homoljac ( sr-cyr, Хомољац) is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D52 highway. Geography Homoljac is about 11 km northwest of Korenica. It is located between Vrhovine Vrhovine ( sr-Cyrl, Врховине) is a town a ...

, population 21 * Jasikovac, population 28 * Jezerce, population 246 * Kalebovac, population 35 * Kapela Korenička, population 13 * Kompolje Koreničko, population 130 * Končarev Kraj, population 1 *

Korana The Korana is a river in central Croatia and west Bosnia and Herzegovina. The river has a total length of and watershed area of . The river's name is derived from Proto-Indo-European ''*karr-'' 'rock'. It was recorded in the 13th century as '' ...

, population 25 *

, population 1 776 * Kozjan, population 0 * Krbavica, population 44 * Ličko Petrovo Selo, population 110 * Mihaljevac, population 44 * Novo Selo Koreničko, population 12 * Oravac, population 23 * Plitvica Selo, population 44 * Plitvička Jezera, population 315 * Plitvički Ljeskovac, population 20 * Poljanak, population 98 * Ponor Korenički, population 3 * Prijeboj, population 12 * Rastovača, population 98 * Rešetar, population 43 * Rudanovac, population 123 * Sertić Poljana, population 12 * Smoljanac, population 245 * Šeganovac, population 10 * Trnavac, population 10 * Tuk Bjelopoljski, population 15 * Vranovača, population 194 * Vrelo Koreničko, population 123 * Vrpile, population 15 * Zaklopača, population 5 * Željava, population 38
:

History

During the

Croatian War of Independence The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between Croat forces loyal to the Government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY)—and the Serb-controlled Yug ...

and the Krajina uprising, many areas were mined to stop enemy advances. The area around the Korana Bridge has recently been de-mined, but there are still other areas suspected to be mine contaminated as per reports from the local NGO Croatian Mine Action Centre. Many local ethnic Serbs left the municipality during the war. Between 1,500-2,000 have returned. According to

Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international non-governmental organization, headquartered in New York City, that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. The group pressures governments, policy makers, companies, and individual human ...

, many of the ethnic Serbian returnees were experiencing higher unemployment rates and being "excluded from work in municipal or town-run services and institutions, including the National Park".

Economy

is a major tourist destination and the area's main source of income, together with arable lands, grazing lands and woods. Due to the Plitvice Lakes National Park's unique geological evolution and beauty, it was entered in the

UNESCO world heritage list A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

in 1979.Plitvice Lakes National Park website
np-plitvicka-jezera.hr; accessed 30 November 2016. Plitvička Jezera is an underdeveloped municipality which is statistically classified as the First Category Area of Special State Concern by the

Government of Croatia The Government of Croatia ( hr, Vlada Hrvatske), formally the Government of the Republic of Croatia ( hr, Vlada Republike Hrvatske), commonly abbreviated to Croatian Government ( hr, hrvatska Vlada), is the main executive branch of government ...

Notable natives and residents

Rade Končar Rade Končar ( sr-cyr, Раде Кончар; 6 August or 28 October 1911 – 22 May 1942) was a Croatian Serb politician and leader of the Yugoslav Partisans in the Independent State of Croatia and Dalmatia during the early stages of World Wa ...

(1911–1942) - antifascist, communist and People's Hero of Yugoslavia * Bogdan Dragović

References

External links