The biggest lake in Croatia
Lake Vrana (Croatian: Vransko jezero) in Dalmatia is the largest lake in Croatia. It is a designated nature park (park prirode), a kind of protected area in Croatia. It is located in Zadar County and Šibenik-Knin County, between the towns and municipalities of Benkovac, Pirovac, Pakoštane, Stankovci and Tisno. The area of the lake is 30.7 square kilometres , the elevation of its surface above sea level is only 0.1 metres (0.33 ft), while its maximum depth is 4 metres. The lake is in a karst valley filled with water and is a rare example cryptodepression. The dominant feature of the park is a special ornithological reserve, an almost untouched natural habitat of birds, a rare wetland systems, full of high biodiversity and an outstanding scientific and ecological value. The lake provides an ample amount of fish for fishing enthusiasts.
Because of its rare natural habitats, fresh water springs and biodiversity, Vransko Lake and its surroundings have been declared a Nature Park on July 21st, 1999. The Park limits are between Pirovac and Pakoštane. It stretches across 57 km², 30,02km² of that being the lake area itself, which stretches in direction north-west to the south-east, parallel with the sea coast, from which it is, in some places, less than a kilometre apart. The lake is unique because of its position and characteristics, not only in Croatia, but in other parts of Europe too. It is, in fact, a karst valley filled with brackish water as well as cryptodepression, which means that a portion of the lake lies below sea level.
It is an unusual compromise and link between land and water which offers a refuge to numerous species of plants and animals, offering them all that is necessary for life. Overgrown with grass, sedge, rush and reed, it looks like field with shallow ponds scattered all over it. Covered with permanent flowers of vibrant colours it offers home to many butterflies, dragonflies and other different insects which enable the birds to stay in the reserve and the Park throughout the year. Hidden in the reed, bird lovers can experience watching the birds nesting and taking care of their chicks. Vransko Lake is a hot-spot with tremendous diversity of ornithofauna with 256 recorded bird species, of which 102 nest in the park area. Four bird species that nest here are considered endangered on the European level and seven on national level. For some of these birds Vransko Lake is the only nesting area in the entire Mediterranean part of Croatia. The park area is also an important resting and feeding place for a whole range of endangered European species. More than 100 000 waterbirds come here to spend the winter.
In the old days Vransko Lake was known as „Vedro blato“. Its cultural and historical monuments date from as far back as 2000 years B.C. Vransko Lake Nature Park still hides many secrets and is a constant source of scientific discoveries which the park is trying to explore and present to the world, with the help of experts dealing with different fields of research. There are few areas in the world where you can simultaneously explore three very different environments and landscapes: the sea coast and the rich archipelago behind it, the Mediterranean swamp with its unique landscape and ecosystem, and just behind the hill, the rural idyll of the villages in Ravni kotari. Come and enjoy the world of nature in our park with genuine curiosity and joy, and you will find the peace and satisfaction which comes from becoming one with nature..
