Which Croatian national park features a chain of 16 terraced lakes?

The Croatian national park featuring a chain of 16 terraced lakes is Plitvice Lakes National Park. Located in central Croatia’s mountainous karst region, it is famous for lakes linked by cascades, waterfalls, and natural travertine barriers.

The park was founded in 1949 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Its lakes are arranged in a series of upper and lower basins, with water flowing from one level to the next. The barriers are made of tufa, a porous limestone deposit formed through the interaction of water, minerals, algae, and microorganisms.

The lakes can appear blue, green, grey, or turquoise depending on minerals, organisms, weather, and sunlight. Although the park is often described simply as a lake system, caves, forests, springs, and waterfalls are equally important parts of the protected landscape. Its karst geology explains why the scenery changes continuously as water reshapes the barriers.