This photo is especially impactful for our group because it shows the other side of the beauty of Croatia. Not only were there amazing architectural views, there was an immense natural beauty whenever we would step outside of the cities. The Plitvice Lakes National Park had so many incredible views we saw during our hike, and that helped round off our experience in Croatia. It was a nice change of scenery, getting outside the historic cities and seeing a different kind of landscape. It also represented something we may not have seen much of back home. At least for me, it was the first time I had seen water in a vibrant turquoise with shades of emerald. Hiking around the park, we learned more about the unique geography of the land, specifically the abundance of limestone and how that affected how the terrain was formed. The park itself was the first national park in Croatia, and due to the unique formations and cultural importance, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We got to see so many important historical sights, but this was the first natural landscape that also held the same cultural value as the walls in the Old City in Dubrovnik or Diocletian’s Palace. It was sightseeing as well as a learning experience, covering the history of the park, the unique geography, and continuing research and preservation efforts going on even today. Overall, the picture shows that Croatia had both natural and architectural beauty, which made our experience that much better.
