KRKA In the Croatian karst, the KRKA National Park is the most fantastic phenomenon and is known for its numerous waterfalls which, like those at Plitvice Lakes, were created through the sedimentation of a special form of limestone. This national park includes the larger part of the course of the River Krka, together with the neighbouring coastal area, from the historical town of Knin, near the river’s source, to Skradin, another historical town, where the river disgorges into a large, deep sea bay. The river partly flows through a deep canyon carved into a limestone plateau and partly forms lakes, particularly between the two largest and most beautiful waterfalls, Skradinski buk and Ropki slap. Apart from such natural attractions the Krka National Park abounds with cultural and historical monuments, the most remarkable being the Franciscan monastery on the Island of Visovac, situated where the river forms a lake. The Franciscan monastery houses an art gallery and its church dates back to the 14th century. Among other things, the richly endowed monastery museum houses around 600 documents dating from the period of Turkish rule in these parts. Visitors are also attracted by the old mills where even today corn is ground in the time- honoured fashion, as well as by the nearby ethnographic museum, staffed by interpreters attired in traditional national costumes who welcome the opportunity to describe the history of the region to visitors. It has to be said, however, that the main attractions of the Krka National Park are its seven waterfalls, Ropki slap being the widest; while Skradinski buk is the river’s largest, best-known and final fall on the river’s journey to the sea. Ropki slap is noteworthy for its impressive ambience due to the close proximity of high canyon cliff faces. Its river backwaters are spanned by an ancient road for which, according to legend, in order to cross it ”two teardrops have to be paid for inconsolable, young Bogdan, whose betrothed was abducted by a winged dragon and taken off to the lake on the day of their wedding.” The seventeen cascades of Skradinski buk extend over a distance of 800 metres and have a total height of 46 metres. Average annual flow is 55,000 litres per second; although after heavy rains that figure can rise to around 300,000 litres per second. The length of the river is about 72 kilometres, two-thirds of which run through the canyon, contrasted by a nearby waterless limestone plateau. This turquoise, copious river passes like a mirage through a rock-bound semi-desert of Dalmatian karst. At the edge of the park, behind the picturesque town of Skradin, the River Krka widens slightly and gradually wends its way into Lake Prukljansko and thereafter into a deep bay of the sea, where the historical town of Šibenik is situated.