Učka
If you are looking to experience one of the most beautiful panoramas in this part of Europe, then you simply must visit Učka Mountain and climb up to its highest peak, Vojak (1401 m) and its stone tower-viewing point. On a clear day, you can see Istria, Kvarner and the central Dalmatian islands, Gorski Kotar, the peaks of the Italian Alps and Venice… You can reach Vojak in only a few hours along the numerous hiking trails leading upwards from the towns of the Liburnia Riviera, and considering that the trails lead you through lovely and botanically valuable beech forests, you will find refreshing shade here in even the hot summer months. Of special note is the endemic Učka bellflower, which grows nowhere else in the world but on Učka Mountain. Mammals in the park include deer, roe-deer, wild boar, badger, marten and field mouse, while bear are found in the northern sections of the park. Almost one hundred species of birds have been recorded in the park, the most attractive being the Griffon vulture, a virtually extinct bird of prey in Europe which still happily lands on the cliffs of Učka Mountain. In addition to the geomorphologic nature monument Vela Draga, well known for its limestone columns tens of meters in height, there are almost 200 caves within the boundaries of Učka Nature Park. Many are home to valuable cave fauna, and many are the sites of paleontology or archaeology finds. The torrential waterfalls of Učka which flow in periods of heavy rain are particularly interesting to see, and together with the numerous springs and pools make up the hydrological picture of Učka, valuable not only in the biological but also in the economic sense. However, that which will most delight visitors to the park in search of an active outing in nature are the numerous possibilities for recreation, from light hiking to demanding free climbing, mountaineering or spelunking. If we add to that the many mountain biking trails and the hang gliding and parasailing sites, then the invitation to visit Učka Nature Park will be all the more enticing.
