Like the postcards, the terraced Plitviče Lakes look just as mythical, beautiful and surreal in real life. The shades of emerald are almost ethereal, and the purity of the water is clear to the point of transparency.

Nacionalni Park Plitvička Jezera is the largest and oldest national park in Croatia.

Scattered among the mountainous karsts and teeming plant life of Lika-Senj, it consists of 16 crystalline lakes arranged in cascades – all interconnected by waterfalls and subterranean karst rivers.

Throughout the year, the lakes give out distinctive colours which range from azure to bright green or blue.

The continually evolving colours and formation is affected by the sunlight and the volume of organisms and minerals present in the water.

The estimated time required to complete the walking circuit is about three hours. While dining options are available within the park, visitors are encouraged to get properly fuelled and hydrated before the walk. During the visit, fishing and swimming in the lakes are prohibited.

This article first appeared in rollinggrace.com

Grace Ng is a serial wanderluster, solo female traveler, award-winning recipe developer and travel writer.