Sastavci Waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes
The Sastavci waterfalls are located at the lowest point of the Lower Lakes at Plitvice Lakes National Park, where the final lake — Novaković Brod — drains into the Korana River. The word sastavci means “confluence” in Croatian, referring to the meeting point of the lake system and the river. The waterfalls drop approximately 26 metres in a broad fan across multiple channels. They are best viewed from the elevated path near Entrance 1, where both Sastavci and the nearby Veliki Slap waterfall are visible in the same frame — creating the park’s most iconic composite view. The Korana River, which exits the park at Sastavci, is the same river that flows north through Rastoke village.
The Sastavci waterfalls are not Plitvice’s tallest, widest, or most powerful. But they occupy a position in the park’s visual story that no other waterfall does: they form the bottom of the frame in the park’s most famous photograph — the “postcard view” visible from the platform near Entrance 1, where Veliki Slap towers on the right and Sastavci fans out in the foreground, with the entire Lower Lakes system visible between them. Understanding what Sastavci is helps make that view complete.
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What Are the Sastavci Waterfalls?
Sastavci (pronounced “sa-STAV-tsi”) is the Croatian word for confluence — the point where waters meet. At Plitvice Lakes, it refers to the final cascade system at the exit of the lake sequence, where Novaković Brod (the last of the four Lower Lakes) releases its water over the travertine barrier into the Korana River below.
Unlike most of the park’s waterfalls, which are single or double drops from one lake to the next, Sastavci is a broad, multi-channel cascade spread across the full width of the lake’s outflow. The water drops approximately 26 metres in total — not in a single dramatic plunge but in multiple stepped channels across a wide travertine barrier. The overall visual effect from above (the most common viewing angle from the Entrance 1 platform) is of a wide, lace-like fan of cascading white water spreading across the rocky base of the canyon.
From this point onward, the water is no longer a lake system — it becomes the Korana River, which flows north approximately 25 km before passing through Rastoke village (where it meets the Slunjčica) and continuing toward Karlovac.
Where to See Sastavci Best
The Entrance 1 platform viewpoint. The elevated wooden platform approximately 50 metres below Entrance 1 is where the most famous view of Plitvice Lakes is taken — Veliki Slap on the right, Sastavci in the foreground below, and the full Lower Lakes system visible between them. From this angle, the two waterfalls read as a unified composition despite being separated by the width of the final lake.
The hidden upper viewpoint. The cliff-top path accessible via Šupljara Cave and the stepped path beside Veliki Slap offers an alternative perspective looking down over both Sastavci and Veliki Slap from a different angle — arguably more dramatic than the standard platform view and significantly less crowded.
The boardwalk near the base. The main lower boardwalk passes close to the Sastavci section, giving a more intimate view of the cascades at their base. From this level the full width of the waterfall complex is apparent, though the vertical drama of the views from above is reduced.
Sastavci in the Iconic Plitvice Photograph
The photograph that appears in virtually every guide, article, and social media post about Plitvice Lakes shows — from left to right — the turquoise Lower Lakes with their wooden boardwalks, Veliki Slap rising 78 metres on the right, and at the very bottom of the frame, the Sastavci waterfalls fanning out where the lowest lake exits the park. Understanding that this photograph encompasses two completely separate waterfalls (fed by different sources), the complete Lower Lakes system, and the exit point of the entire 16-lake cascade helps make the image meaningful rather than simply scenic.
Sastavci is fed by the lake system; Veliki Slap is fed by the independent Plitvica Potok river. They appear adjacent in the photograph but are hydrologically unconnected. The fact that two independent water systems produce such a visually coherent composition at this point in the canyon is part of what makes the Entrance 1 viewpoint so spectacular.
Quick Facts
| Location | Bottom of the Lower Lakes, Novaković Brod exit point |
| Height | ~26 metres total drop |
| Type | Multi-channel travertine cascade |
| Water source | Novaković Brod (the lowest of the 16 lakes) |
| Best view | Entrance 1 elevated platform; cliff-top path above Veliki Slap |
| River below | Korana River |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Sastavci waterfalls visible from the main routes?
Yes — they are visible from the Entrance 1 platform at the start of all lower lake routes, and from the boardwalk near the base. Every visitor to the Lower Lakes section sees Sastavci.
Why are they called Sastavci?
Sastavci means “confluence” or “joining” in Croatian — referring to the meeting point of the lake system and the Korana River at the park’s lowest point.
Are the Sastavci part of the same waterfall as Veliki Slap?
No — they are separate waterfalls fed by different water sources. Veliki Slap is fed by the Plitvica Potok river; Sastavci is the overflow of Novaković Brod lake. They appear adjacent in the famous viewpoint photograph but are hydrologically distinct.
How tall are the Sastavci waterfalls?
The total drop is approximately 26 metres across the multi-channel complex, significantly less than Veliki Slap’s 78 metres.
