UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK · DESIGNATED 2024
A region connected
beneath the surface.
The Biokovo–Imotski Lakes UNESCO Global Geopark links two seemingly different worlds: the high limestone mass of Biokovo and the karst basins, rivers and fertile fields around Imotski.
Why UNESCO recognised it
UNESCO highlights the meeting of Mediterranean and Central European landscapes and cultures, the Biokovo massif, the Vrljika River, Red Lake and Blue Lake, as well as archaeological sites and medieval stećak tombstones across the territory.
“The Red Lake, Europe’s deepest karst lake … and the picturesque Blue Lake, renowned for its crystalline waters.”
UNESCO, announcing the geopark designation in 2024More than geology
A UNESCO Global Geopark is not simply a label for dramatic rocks. The model connects geological heritage with education, local communities, sustainable tourism and cultural history. That makes the Imotski lakes part of a larger regional story rather than isolated attractions.
From Imotski to Biokovo
The landscape broadens from the Imotski field and Vrljika system toward the Biokovo massif. The geographical contrast is the point: water disappears underground, returns at springs, shapes agriculture and settlement, and eventually meets the steep mountain world closer to the coast.