Explore the Mysterious Wonders of Imotski, Croatia

Are you tired of visiting tourist haunts and fancy exploring an off-the-beaten-track destination? Imotski, far from being a mainstream town, is an alluring hidden gem in Croatia. With no more than 10,000 inhabitants, this town hides away from the azure Adriatic coast, in the inland region of Dalmatia. But if you can live without the marvellous turquoise sea for a few days, then you'll find out that this quaint town won't be short of natural wonders.  
 
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This beautiful town will entice you from the moment you look around its magnificent and unique array of landscapes. The peculiarity of this town not only are its magnificent karst formations-- including sinkholes, hidden caves, and lake fissures, but also the folklore, myth and stories that lay behind them. Stories of fairy dens, heroines, angels, and globins abound in this region.  
 
Thanks to the area's distinctive geography, it's also an ideal place for hiking or cycling-- that way you can fully take in the landscapes of the region. 
 
Imotski is also renowned as the home town of many famous Croatian poets, such as Tin Ujević, that have touched people through the centuries with their exceptional poems, and been translated into more than 40 languages. 
 
The first written references to this historical town date back to the 10th century. As does the famous Topana Fortress, that looms over Imotski from the highest belvedere point, offering breathtaking views. From this fortress, there is a magnificent view of the Blue Lake, called "Modro Jezero", which is a favourite summer swimming spot for the town's residents. And about one-half km away one can find the Red Lake or "Crveno Jezero", which is the deepest fissure lake in Europe.  
 

These two lakes are notably the two main natural attractions of Imotski that have taken more than a few breaths away and inspired myriad folktales and poems. These two geological wonders are linked back to myths that have echoed down through history and the town's inhabitants still tell their children today. Whether you might believe them or not, what they do assure us is that both lakes emerged when the surface of two caves collapsed, creating a deep sinking formation. Yet what most surprises geologists is that it takes ages for the water to destroy limestone and create super-huge underground pits. 
Science facts aside, once you marvel at these works of art from mother earth, you'll be captivated by their chilling beauty. Don't forget to take your camera with you, as both lakes are postcard-perfect, Instagram-worthy scenes that will fascinate even the most photophobic of photographers.
 
You'll need to go down a meandering spiral path to reach the Blue lake before having a pleasant soak in this fifty-shades of blue waters. From here, you'll also get the chance to see the beautiful surroundings of craggy formations and mysterious caves that hug the lake. According to legend, one of the caves that loom over the lake has never been entered by man. Kind of eerie right? This craggy cave is known as the "Fairy's resting place". 
 
For those on a family vacation, don't forget to take a picnic with you to indulge at the edge of the lake-- this memory will last for life.
 
You thought the Loch Ness was the most perplexing lake ever known? That's because you never heard of Imotski's Red Lake. This lake, which is more mystical and ethereal than Blue lake, is surrounded by a jagged enclave of red limestone rocks and is the third deepest and biggest sinkhole in Europe-- bearing an exact depth of 245 metres, whose bottom was reached for the first time by a French cave diver called Frederic Swierczynski. And only a few years ago, some dauntless slackliners walked across this gargantuan fissure of dizzying heights. 
 
This marvellous wonder will undoubtedly lock you in and whisk your imagination away to its mythical story: Many centuries ago, a very wealthy man named Gavan lived in Imotski with his wife Gavanica in a luxurious castle. His only interest was amassing money and thus became very greedy. He would never help the poor, and also mistreated and beat his servants. One night, an angel came down from heaven and appeared at his door disguised as a beggar. When Gavan opened the door and refused to give him food or water, the angel drew his magical sword, and the earth began to tremble. The sky darkened, and lightning struck. Deep holes from the ground cracked open and started swallowing Gavan's family and all his wealth-- thus forming Red Lake and Blue Lake in its place. 
 
Imotski's inhabitants even today say that when the wind blows, they can still hear the harrowing cries of Gavan's family coming from the lakes. 
 
Another strange mystery about Red Lake is the fact that no one until this day has heard the well-known sound that a stone makes when dropping it into the water-- not even from a large rock.
 
 
Ultimately, one cannot leave Imotski without visiting its beautiful medieval town with its picturesque cobbled streets, pebbled squares and ancient churches, and without forgetting to see its many monuments honouring Croatia's most famous poets. 
 
Imotski is undoubtedly a mix of harsh geological wonders with a blend of tender poetry and legend. 
 
 
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