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Krka, the National Park is mostly unaltered area of exceptional natural values. Includes one or more preserved or slihtley altered ecosystems.
Its purpose is primarily scientific, cultural, educational and recreational, and because of the visitors there are also tourist activities.
Story of Dalmatian hinterland is the story of the river cutting her way through the karst to feed the hungry and inebriate the thirsty.
It is not an easy task, but neither is a life of men in this harsh environment.
That’s why the story of a river is also the story of people living down its stream.
The story goes something like this:
A long, long time ago, in a place dark and forgotten, water came to life. Pure and clean like only the water could be. Innocently, she observed around and asked:
– What is this world that I have been born into? I see absolutely nothing here, not a darn thing. Hello!? Is there anybody here?
Her question echoed for long between the walls of stone. There was nowhere the question could go, it just resembled on and on. But, it gave water an answer of a kind. It meant that there was obviously nobody here, and more importantly, that there was nowhere the echo could go to. The place was closed.
It momentarily raised another question:
– How will I ever get out of this place?
So, the water wondered and wondered, desperate and alone, not even certain of what is it that she has been wishing for. She hasn’t yet been anywhere, hasn’t yet seen anything, nor met anyone. But, nevertheless, she was sure life is more than this.
She only has to find her way out. And she did.
Years have passed, maybe even centuries, the crack was so small, millimeter or so, she did not notice it before.
Or maybe, somehow, it was she who made a crack in the stone. How on earth could she do it? Is she so strong? She didn’t know but drop by drop, the water pushed her way through the crack.
Next moment the rollercoaster started.
The crack obviously led to a long drop, then a pull-up, then a fast and chaotic run through the tunnels of some kind, then down the spiral slide. It was too fast for the water to observe.
Then suddenly, the dark seemed to be a little bit less dark for a moment, like a blur light has appeared somewhere up front.
Water hurried. She could see the white stone-world around her brighter now. Until the moment the light shone so blindingly that she could not keep her eyes open anymore. She blinked.
And in a blink of an eye, the water champagne-rocketed through the air and into the light of a day.
She escaped the underground and was now seeing the outside world for the first time in her life!
The water broke through.
She was delighted and amazed. She formed a waterfall immediately to celebrate the whole thing. It was a glorious event. Billions of water-drops splashed all over the place, with a soundtrack of thunderous noise at the bottom of the waterfall. Then a new question occurred:
– Now what? –asked the water.
It was much nicer on the outside than down there in the dark. The sunlight was bathing in it, and the blue sky mirrored on its surface. But, otherwise, there was still no one there. Not a plant, not a single worm. Nothing. Just barren limestone karst as far as she could see.
– My quest is not yet finished – the water concluded – I have no company here, and nobody is making any use of me and my powers. My purpose is to grow life. So, my journey is to be continued until I find someone I can help.
The Growing of Life
The water got back on the road. The adventures and the unknown was waiting for her, so she neatly slid from the waterfall down the karst.
It was a long quest. Water had to cut through the stone, push the blocks, crumble the barriers. She built canyons on her way, huge detours around the mountains and complex labyrinths of underground passages where needed. Such was the persistence of water.
She met other rivers and teamed up with them. She worked on charming details like the island in the middle of the lake, or a necklace-like series of terraces announcing the great waterfall.
Little by little, things started to change.
She gave them everything they needed and convinced them to stay. People built villages by the river to live in. Planted seeds and farmed sheep. They built mills to produce food and monasteries to deepen their faith in this spiritual place.
After she raised countless generations on harsh life awarded with nothing but beauty, people decided to give it back to her.
To show the river that they appreciate her effort they proclaimed the national park and the need to preserve the river together with its surroundings.
Krka National Park – in all its divine beauty and diversity – is the place of opposites.
While the crowd rushes to its most popular spot – Skradinski Buk – their voices are out-sounded by the thunderous sounds of waterfalls. Loud and stomping. And yes, very, very exciting.
But, don’t panic.
A little further up the stream, nature seems to calm down from all the excitement, only to enrich the visitors with pure harmony and overwhelming piece.
This is where nature and men walk hand in hand…
silently…
together…
The Krka National Park
Your CTC Team, S.J.
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