Sastavci — Confluence of the Plitvice Lakes

Sastavci — literally 'the meeting' — is the geological climax of Plitvice: the point where all sixteen lakes finally give up their water in a spectacular double waterfall into the Korana river canyon. On the left, the modest Plitvica stream drops 78 metres as the famous Veliki Slap; on the right, the combined outflow of the lake chain tumbles down parallel travertine ledges in a bright-white broom of spray. The two rivers merge at the base to become the Korana. The viewpoint directly above Sastavci — reached from park entrance 1 in under fifteen minutes — is one of Croatia's most Instagrammed spots, but arrive within an hour of opening and you can have it briefly to yourself. From here the descent into the Lower Lakes canyon begins: 165 wooden steps drop you to the base of Veliki Slap where the spray is intense enough to soak everything within ten metres. Look downstream for a rare geological curiosity — Šupljara Cave, a natural tunnel through the cliff whose upper opening frames the perfect telephoto shot of Milanovac Lake beyond.