The Eye of the Earth (Croatia)

Attention:

The Cetina River Springs is an official Croatian national monument and is protected since 1971.When you visit please make sure to treat it with respect, so the Cetina River source will be as beautiful in the future as it is now.

Please:

• do not enter the water
• do not throw stones into the water

Cetina River Spring Location:

The Cetina Spring is a natural karst spring located at the foothills of the Dinara Mountain Range just north of Split. This clear water spring brings up cold groundwater and is the source of the Cetina River, which flows 101 kilometers (63 miles) to the village of Omis, in the Dalmatia region of the Adriatic Sea. The spring and source of this beautiful river is located  just beneath Dinara mountain, which is the tallest mountain in Croatia.The famous spring is located in the town of Cetina, which is a small rural village. Near the spring is the oldest Early Croatian church in Croatia. The church belongs to the pre-Romanesque style with a bell tower and was erected in the 9th century. Next to the church is a cemetery with tombs (traditional stone headstones) dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries.

Hint: Between the viewpoint and the hillside church, you'll find a short path leading to the edge of the water. While it seems inviting to take a dip in this clear swimming hole, locals find it quite rude for tourists to swim here since it their source of fresh drinking water.

The Name of the source:

Cetina River Spring (Izvor Cetine in Croatian),  better known as "The Eye of the Earth" or "Eye of Croatia". This is because from above, this body of water looks like a green and blue eye. Maybe a dragon's eye?The local name for this spring is Veliko vrilo Glavaš, which translates to "Great spring Glavaš" in Croatian. Apparently, locals from this region have never heard the colloquial name "Eye of the Earth". As soon as you arrive at the viewpoint, you'll likely discover why the Eye of the Earth at Cetina River Spring got its name. On a clear, sunny day, the water is a translucent shade of turquoise-green, with a deep, blue section in the middle, representing the pupil.

Croatia is home to some of the most beautiful karst landscapes on earth, including the famous Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Krka National Park.

About the Karst Spring:

A karst spring is part of a karst hydrological system with sinkholes and caves. 
The Cetina River Spring are part of a larger karst landscape, characterized by soluble rock like limestone. Over time, water erodes the limestone, creating caves, fissures, and underground channels. The spring are situated where the underground water flow, which is often channeled through the limestone, encounters a layer of impermeable marl. This barrier forces the water to the surface. This phenomenon is responsible for creating this incredible karst spring, which serves as the reservoir for the Cetina River (the most water-rich river in Croatia and the longest river in Dalmatia).The resulting spring is known for their depth, clarity, and vibrant blue-green color. The water's clarity allows visibility into the submerged cave systems and underwater formations. 
The water of the beautiful Cetina River Source is very cold. The temperature is said to be between 4 and 8 Celsius cold (39 F – 46 F).The depth information varies from over 100 to over 150 meters (online). The information on the old sign at the site is difficult to read because the writing is so weathered. But witch are really true?

Photography Tips for the Cetina River Eye:

• Try to visit on a clear, sunny day - to get the most vibrant colors and clear waters, you'll want to visit on a sunny day. 
• To state it right away, you will need a drone to get that iconic dragon eye photo from above. Only from a bird’s eye perspective and directly from above the Eye Of The Earth you will see the incredible blue-green eye shape.There is a view platform built next to the blue spring to overlook the Cetina River source, but to be honest, you will not get that iconic photo from there.
• One more thing to add: To get that glare from the water’s surface out it’s best to use a polarizing filter, especially if you take photos at an angle from the view platform. The polarizing filter helps to filter out the reflection of the clouds on the water. It also makes the blue tones pop more and the highlights won’t be blown out either.
• The best time for a photo is before 10 a.m.

Lo Log this Virtual:

But you don't have to be an expert for this virtual, just take a photo of yourself or your GPS with the source in the background. 

I hope you found our overview about the Cetina-Spring useful and got inspired to visit this hidden gem in Croatia. The blue hole is definitely one of the most unique places in Croatia and absolutely worth a visit.



Note: This is a freshwater spring, the photos you see of a whale in the Izvor Cetine is not real!