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| Rafting |
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Rafting as a
mode of transport up and down waterways also has a long
tradition in Croatia. However, white-water rafting as a modern
form of adventure began only in the late 1980s, and served to
attract notice to the amazing beauty of Croatian rivers, which
up until that time was known only to relatively few kayaking
adventurers and fishermen. The founders of the Riverfree Club,
pioneers of commercial trips through the rivers and experts on
the waterways of Croatia, did not anticipate the subsequent
level of interest and the resulting popularity of rafting on
rivers which do not abound with savage rapids and high waves.
Nevertheless, thousands of people have since enjoyed their close
encounters with the unforgettable magic of rivers, of green
river banks, sheer canyons and crystal-clear depths. Rivers in
the continental parts of the country are flanked by dense
forests and by mountains, while those closer to the sea boast
broad green banks and deep and shady mysterious canyons. What
they all have in common is greenish clear waters that one can
see through right down to the river bed. The classification of
difficulty of Croatia’s white waters is, on average, category
III; only on the Rivers Dobra and Una can you count on category
IV waters. |
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River Kupa flows from the Risnjak
National Park, flowing between forest-covered mountain slopes
and rich valleys, but offering sufficient water for rafting only
in spring and after heavy rainfalls. |
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River Dobra has a surface course and an
underground course and offers first class rafting conditions at
all times because dams and accumulation lakes permit a
sufficient flow through of water. |
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| River Mrežnica
abounds with waterfalls, but between them the water flows calm.
Rafting through the upper, canyon course involves elements of
canyoning. |
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| River Korana
issues from the Plitvice lakes. After heavy rains and when snow
melts the section below the picturesque site of Rastoke, and
downstream through the canyon, is particularly attractive.
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| River Una,
which forms the border between Croatia and Bosnia, provides
excellent rafting conditions downstream of the 20 metre-high
Štrbački buk waterfall, when the waters are running high,
although the experience is somewhat less exciting when water
levels fall. |
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| River Zrmanja
abounds with water in springtime, while in summer smaller craft
- canoes and kayaks - must be used to travel this, the most
beautiful of Croatian canyons. |
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| River Krka can
be negotiated through the upper part of the national park due to
the inflow from its tributary, the River Butišnica, which is
controlled by a dam. Rafting is the only way to really get to
know this undisturbed area of the park, and the only place where
a detour by land is necessary is the 12 metre-high Bilušića buk
waterfall. |
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| River Cetina
waters are directed via a tunnel towards a power plant on the
coast, which means that there is not much water for rafting in
its natural canyon bed. The experience is still worth
undertaking if only because of thick and lush vegetation along
its banks, the clear waters, high cliffs, waterfalls and caves.
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| Equipment:
Rafts utilised on Croatian rivers are built of sturdy, resistant
materials with good mobility properties. Organized rafting
arrangements include a skipper and personal gear for every crew
member: life jacket, neoprene suit and footwear, helmet and an
oar. Rafting is not recommended on rivers, or sections of
rivers, which abound with narrow passages and other risk-laden
features, or across fragile limestone waterfall barriers. |
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