Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Southeast europe and the largest national park in Croatia. The national park was founded on April 8,1949 and it is situated in the mountainous karst area of central Croatia. The important north-south road connection, which passes through the national park area, connects the Croatian inland with the Adriatic coastal region. In 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage register.