Čorkova Uvala aerial photos

August 2024
Location: Biljevina
Equipment: Mavic 1 Pro

Čorkova Uvala: A Hidden Primeval Forest in the Heart of Plitvice Lakes

Čorkova Uvala is the most pristine remnant of Dinaric primeval forest, preserved within Plitvice Lakes National Park. Spanning 79.5 hectares, it’s an untouched beech-fir forest that has developed naturally over centuries without human interference. Towering fir trees over 500 years old reach up to 58 meters in height. The forest is home to a mosaic of ecosystems in various stages of natural growth and decay, including deadwood, canopy gaps, and thriving understory. Educational trails allow visitors to explore this rare wilderness and its surrounding mountain meadows, enriched with informational panels about the area's biodiversity and ecological processes. Čorkova Uvala is also a biodiversity hotspot: 1,267 plant species have been recorded, including 75 endemics and 55 species of orchids. Previous research within the park identified 321 butterfly species, 161 bird species, and 21 species of bats. Among the large predators, the brown bear is the most iconic resident. This untouched forest offers a rare insight into how nature functions when left entirely to its own rhythm—making it one of Europe’s most valuable natural treasures.