(photo courtesy of 29cm) 

Sometimes you see a photo of a place and think … can this be real?    But when you see hundreds of spectacular photos of the same place, taken by hundreds of different travellers, you can assume it is real. 

This photo was taken at the Plitvice Lakes National Park.  It's located in the mountainous region of Lika, in central Croatia.  

The park actually boasts 16 vividly-colored lakes, which vary in size from 1 hectare to more than 80. 12 of the lakes are described as the upper lakes, and there exists 4 lower ones. The lakes are obviously known for their colors, which are in fact constantly changing based on the mineral composition of the waters. No two days, or even hours, might look the same at the Plitvice Lakes National Park. 

In addition, people visit the park to explore its limestone caves, dense forests of firs, spruce and beech trees. More than 125 bird species have been witnessed in the park, along with other rare animals like capercaillies, lynx, owls, and wildcats. In 2000, the park was expanded an additional 100 square kilometres.  

In 1979, the Plitvice Lakes National Park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of its "outstanding natural beauty, and the undisturbed production of travertine (tuff) through chemical and biological action".

The park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Croatia.