Lake Prokljan is a sweet/salty oasis of Krka National Park that most tourists bypass

Last summer, as part of our Adria tour, we hopped from one event to another – from island festivals to Slavonian concerts – chasing roaring energy and people who live life to the fullest. But then, by chance, the road led us to Bilice, a place we had known almost nothing about, and where we stayed longer than planned. The reason? An unusual lake that intrigued us from the very first glance.

Lake Prokljan, Photo: Adria.fun

Lake Prokljan – or Prukljan, as some call it – is located just a few kilometers north of Šibenik, stretching through the valley of the lower Krka River. It covers an area of 11.1 km², nearly seven kilometers in length and up to three kilometers in width. The northern part is shallow, perfect for shellfish and fish, while the southern part plunges to 25 meters. Its bottom lies below sea level – a geological phenomenon known as a cryptodepression. And the water? Fresh on the surface, salty in the depths – as seawater enters through the Prokljan Channel and mixes with the Krka River. Altogether, it is a natural puzzle that somehow makes perfect sense once you stop and take a look.

Lake Prokljan, Photo: Adria.fun

But none of it would matter without the people who live with the lake, not just beside it. The mussels from Lake Prokljan are among the best you’ll ever try – large, meaty, and bursting with the taste of the sea. They don’t come from a menu with a price tag, but straight from small boats and the hands of those who’ve been farming them for decades.

And the fish? It’s more than just numbers – mullet, sea bass, eel. There’s no industrial fishing here, just boats that head out in the morning and return in the evening, depending on what the water decides to give. That’s what makes Lake Prokljan real – it doesn’t look like a backdrop, but like a place where people live, fish, and eat.

Lake Prokljan, Photo: Adria.fun

In the middle of Lake Prokljan lies the small island of Stipanac, like the dot on an “i”. Tiny, rocky, covered in greenery. They say the remains of an old church dedicated to St. Stephen are hidden there, along with a story or two no one tells anymore.

This entire area is part of Krka National Park, but far from the waterfalls, guides, and organized tours. Here, experiences aren’t sold – you create them yourself. Maybe you sit down in a café in Bilice or a nearby place, maybe you just stroll along the shore, maybe you ask someone where to eat well. And while all that is happening, the lake doesn’t need to say a word – you just look at it, and you know it has a purpose.

Lake Prokljan, Photo: Adria.fun

Throughout the entire tour, this was one of the rare places we hadn’t planned to visit – and that’s exactly why it stayed with us. Not because of spectacle, but because of the feeling that you’ve stumbled upon something that doesn’t need to be popular to be special. Lake Prokljan isn’t a destination for everyone, but for those who seek something more. It’s a place worth admiring.

We visited the fortress of St. Nicholas, the keeper of the Saint Anthony’s canal! A popular series was filmed there!