Article author: Travel Advisor
The Kupa River originates in the Risnjak National Park in Gorski Kotar and begins its 296-kilometer journey. Although it is a fast river after the source, after a few kilometers it calms down and becomes intersected by numerous artificial waterfalls which in history were used to run water mills, mills and sawmills. Colapis, as the Old Romans called it, is one of the most important Croatian rivers, so the first cities were built along it from the earliest times. The mighty Siscia, today's Sisak, one of the most important Roman cities, flourished at its inlet.
The upper course of the Kupa has been an integral part of the Risnjak National Park since 1997, and the value of this area was recognized long before the expansion of the national park boundaries.
While in the majority of Gorski kotar the population traditionally engaged in forestry in the past, in the Kupa valley, people were more oriented towards agriculture. Small plots of land were cultivated with crops such as potatoes, cabbage, corn and flax, and cows and goats were the most farmed animals. In the area of the valley, we meet small scattered villages and hamlets that had arable fields in the immediate vicinity of the houses, surrounded by meadows for cattle grazing. Larger meadows, further away from the settlement, were mainly used to obtain hay for the winter feeding of treasures. These small farms were built in a traditional way and are the cultural heritage of this area.
Fish from the Kupa River has always been an important source of food for the inhabitants along the river itself. The inhabitants had a special way of fishing and keeping fish. They used special wooden chests with a lid, the so-called puntara that had small openings for the flow of water. Puntars were kept in the water along the river bank and live caught fish were placed in them. In this way, the live fish was kept cold and it was not necessary to catch it every day.
"A small number of residents settled in seven wooden houses. On Studenci, two mills are creaking, and there is the forest of Kupa again."
This is how it is Cooper, at the end of the 19th century, described by Dragutin Hirc, a Croatian naturalist. Some of the houses from his description are still there and one of them has been converted into "Native House of the Kupa River" – the only birthplace of a river, at least in Croatia.
Kupar can be reached by hiking trail from Hrvatsko. It is a Croatian village on the border with Slovenia, which can be reached by road from the direction of Delnice and Brod na Kupi, from the direction of Gerovo - Zamost and from the direction of Čabra. The trail starts on the left bank of the river, in a landscaped location. The first part of the path to the village of Kupari is called Fishing trail, which follows the course of the river all the way and has several resting places. From Kupari there is a road (macadam) that passes through the hamlets of Kupari Srednji and Gornji.
A walk along the described path or a drive along a narrow forest road through the colorful villages of Kup takes us to Gornje Kupera which are the goal of this trip.
At the beginning of summer above the hot springs of the Kupa River you can see small yellow clouds flickering over the water. But these are not the butterflies that the valley is famous for. They are coast guards (Plecoptera), insects that feed on fish that jump out of the water after them. Inhabitants of clear waters, as well as tralkas and tularis, are the most numerous aquatic insects of this area. On the shores you can also see slightly larger birds - the mountain shepherd and kingfisher, and out of the corner of your eye you can even catch a kingfisher as it flies low over the water.
Wildlife observation program
The expanses surrounding this river are the ideal home for large animals wolf, lynx and bear https://www.np-risnjak.hr/sisavci/. Areas still unthreatened by humans provide the beasts with what they need most - peace, for them and for the many other animals that represent their typical prey. That's why in the winter period, take part in wildlife observation program which is offered in Kupari, in a valley that in winter is full of forest dwellers who have migrated from the higher areas of the park to the Kupa river valley.
You can find more about this autumn-winter program at https://www.np-risnjak.hr/promatranje-zivotinja-u-kuparima/. The wildlife observation program begins with a meeting with nature guards (rangers) at the main entrance to the National Park in Bijela Vodica.
You will get the first information about the park, flora, fauna and trails from them as they drive you to the observation location. Also, you will learn firsthand about the history and interesting things of the hamlets you pass through. Special instructions follow for only observing animals so that your actions do not frighten the animals that move through the habitat. Given that wild animals are active mainly from dusk to dawn, you will receive binoculars and night vision with which you can observe the night life in the valley.
Meet wild animals in their "home", observe and listen, discover the hidden world of Risnjak.
Information about the program: https://www.np-risnjak.hr/promatranje-zivotinja-u-kuparima/
Source and photo: Travel Advisor
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