Green heart of Croatia

Gorski Kotar is a region in the Republic of Croatia for which we can say that is created for orienteering sport. For arrival of orienteering sport on the area of Gorski Kotar two events are deserve credit: Organization of the European and World military championship in 1998 and 1999, in Delnice and small places Crni Lug, and other was establishing of the orienteering sport club "Ris" Delnice.

Orienteering terrains are usually mounty-ruggeded and continental type. Nowhere in Croatia can't you find such variety in relief and vegetation like in Gorski Kotar. Typical mounty-rugged terrain gives rich orienteering maps with details, with their attractions guarantee great orienteering adventures. Centennial evergreen and leaf forest are favorable residence of big number of flora and fauna. That we speak about specific and demanding terrains tells as a fact that Finland national orienteering team in two times has been trained on these terrains. Orienteering sport Camps take place every year and they show to us as attractive because they give opportunity for use a variety of terrains for orienteering training and also other active vacation activities in nature environment (running, walking, mountain climbing, swimming, fitness, etc.)

Maps for orienteering sport are design in the OCAD in accordance with the IOF standards, and generally in measure 1:15 000 and 1:10 000 with equidistant of 5m. Gorski Kotar is a mountain area, which brings snow and bad weather conditions causing training to be minimized from December till February, although mildly winter during those months can make orienteering activities possible. All the rest of months in a year give a great weather conditions for orienteering. Witnesses are many of competitors who visited us during time we of two orienteering competitions "CROATIA OPEN" and "Open championship of Gorski Kotar". Those competitions are organized by using Gorski Kotar terrains maps.

Closeness of Adriatic Sea and possibility of short time travel to big tourist centers of Istra and Primorje regions gives opportunity to connect orienteering sport activities with summer vacation. Imagine, morning orienteering training on fresh mountain air and in the afternoon swimming and resting on beautiful and hot summer beaches rich Adriatic coast. If for someone summer jams on the sea side are big problem, you can find refreshment in clear mountain rivers and lakes which by itself represent adventure.

So, on the end of this review we can say, Croatia has also a "green sea" Gorski Kotar. Croatia in her hart carries on the most beautiful what nature can give: ancient forest and forest are treasure of Gorski Kotar. They are pride and life of people who lives in Gorski Kotar known as Gorani. Who didn't heard primordial echo of forest, their whisper, listen echoes of green waterfalls, he will always carry on one peace of emptiness in himself. Only gentleness of green forest, and green peace which is endless can enrich one human make sense to his life, and arise in him a treasure of beauty. On the end words are not enough we can say everything about Gorski Kotar. So, listen a call of adventure in yourself and step on a path of your heart towards Gorski Kotar - The Green Heart of Croatia.