Una National Park ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, Национални парк Уна, Nacionalni park Una) was established on 29 May 2008 around the rivers Upper Una River, Krka and the Unac. It is Bosnia and Herzegovina's largest national park. The main purpose of the park is to protect the unspoiled Una river and its tributaries Krka and Unac, which run through it.

Geography

Protection zone of the National Park is , and stretches on the western side from the source of the Krka river and its course to the confluence with the Una on the state border of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Croatia from where park border follows the Una and state border to the town of

Martin Brod Martin Brod (Serbian Cyrillic: Мартин Брод) is a village in the municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is mostly known for its proximity to Una National Park, which is Bosnia and Herzegovina's largest national park. Demogra ...

and confluence with the Unac. On the eastern side border of the park goes from the entrance of the Unac River into its canyon, few kilometers downstream from town of

Drvar Drvar (, ) is a town and municipality located in Canton 10 of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 2013 census registered the municipality as having a population of 7,036. It is situated in western Bos ...

, and follows the Unac and its canyon all the way to the confluence with the Una in town of

. From there park border follows the Una on the right and state border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia on the left, until it reach a small town of

Ripač Ripač ( sr-cyrl, Рипач) is a village in the municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ripač is the location of a border crossing with Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms ...

, few kilometers upstream from town of

Bihać Bihać ( cyrl, Бихаћ) is a city and the administrative centre of Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated on the banks of river Una in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina ...

. National park Una areal distribution is within following geographic coordinates: * northernmost point: (inhabited settlement Podastrana) * southernmost point: (hill Gradina ) * westernmost point: (hill ) * easternmost point: (locality Vrtočke Bare en, Vrtočke Marshes)

Waters

The Una's waterfalls and white water rapids highlight the park. The most famous waterfalls are those at

, where the popular ''"International Una Regatta"'' kayaking competition begins, and

Štrbački Buk Strbacki buk ( sr-cyrl, Штрбачки бyк) waterfall is a 25 m high waterfall on the Una River (296 m altitude). It is situated in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Una-Sana Canton, city Bihać, settlement Doljani and Celije). It is part of ...

further downstream. Throughout the park, visitors can enjoy prime conditions for rafting, fishing, cycling, hiking, and camping. Jumping from the city bridges in

and

Bosanska Krupa Bosanska Krupa ( sr-cyrl, Босанска Крупа) is a municipality located in the Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, it has a population of 29,659 inhabitants. It i ...

is also popular. Largest waterfall on the Una river is

, and is one of the main feature in the Park.

Biology

Una National Park is also noted for its biodiversity, with 30 fish species, 130 bird species, and other animals, including lynx, fox, wolf, bear and chamois.

History

Area of the park has rich cultural-historic heritage and numerous archaeological sites, many dating from the prehistoric period. Significant historical and cultural heritage of the area within and outside the park zone are the Roman fort Milančeva Kula,

Rmanj Monastery The Rmanj Monastery ( sr, Манастир Рмањ, Manastir Rmanj) is a Serbian Orthodox monastery dedicated to Saint Nicholas and located in Martin Brod in north-western Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the left bank of the Unac River near its confl ...

, medieval fortress Ostrovica above

Kulen Vakuf Kulen Vakuf (Serbian Cyrillic: Кулен Вакуф) is a village in the Municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kulen Vakuf was the birthplace of Bosnian Ottoman nobleman Mehmed-beg Kulenović. ...

, as well as outside the park zone Sokolačka Kula fortress in

Sokolac Sokolac ( sr-Cyrl, Соколац) is a municipality of the city of Istočno Sarajevo located in Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, it has a population of 12,021 inhabitants, while the town of Sokolac has a populat ...

village near

and Ostrožac Castle between Bihać and

Peace Park Plitvice-Una

Una National Park is close to

Plješivica Plješivica or Plješevica (), also called Lička Plješevica (i.e., "Plješevica of Lika"), is a mountain in Croatia and on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, part of the Dinaric Alps. It stretches in the direction north–south, and it ...

mountain virgin forest, which stretches between

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and H ...

and Croatia, and Croatia's

Plitvice Lakes National Park Plitvice Lakes National Park ( hr, Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera, colloquially ''Plitvice'', ) is one of the oldest and largest national parks in Croatia. In 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage lis ...

. Veliki Slap is the tallest waterfall in

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

Sources

References

External links

National Park Una
{{authority control National parks of Bosnia and Herzegovina