The Špoljarić family Sawmill in the village of Korana

The Špoljarić family

Sawmill in the village of Korana

The sawmill in the village of Korana is the only preserved commercial facility that uses the power of water for sawing (logs) in the Plitvice Lakes NP, the entire area of the Lika-Senj County and probably beyond.

In the course of evolution, from the days of yore to the present, people have always used natural resources to survive and to make their lives easier. There are four main elements of life: earth, fire, water and air. Water is the source of life and is therefore indispensable for human existence.

Harnessing the power of water is yet another way to use this natural resource. People have been using the power of water since the ancient times, perfecting its use with time to make it as efficient as possible.

In the pre-industrial period, in our regions, the power of water was used to drive watermills, sawmills and presses,

to soak hemp, etc. Since beginning of the industrial era, the power of water has been used in hydropower plants which now produce 20% of the world’s electricity. It is important to mention that water is a renewable source of energy and does not pollute the environment like some other energy sources.

The Korana River flows out of the Plitvice Lakes and has a total length of 134 km. In the past, the area along the river bustled with life because of numerous watermills and several sawmills. The river cascades were ideal for building mill dams (places where the water is diverted into a watermill or sawmill) thanks to their natural height difference and the possibility of using the power of the river. With the introduction of electricity, watermills and sawmills lost their importance, deteriorated and disappeared because they became obsolete. Those that remained are mostly used as tourist attractions and present valuable cultural and architectural heritage.

The sawmill in the village of Korana is the only preserved commercial facility that uses the power of water for sawing (logs) in the Plitvice Lakes NP, the entire area of the LikaSenj County and probably beyond. The sawmill was built in 1922 and belongs to a group of facilities used for sawing wood called the Venetian frame saw (venecijanska jarmača).

It has one flywheel and one connecting rod, it is driven by water and can saw logs with a maximum diameter of 0.9 m.

built along the south wall of the building. The water wheel was originally made of wood, but it was replaced by a metal one in later repairs. One part of the operating mechanism is located on the ground level, while the other is below it.

The sawmill facility is an example of the Venetian frame saw and, according to its function, consists of the following main assemblies: STAND FRAME WITH SAW AND CONNECTING ROD WATER WHEEL WITH FLYWHEEL LOG CART MOVEMENT MECHANISM

Venetian frame saws are most often used in small sawmills which are positioned on small watercourses and powered by water.

The term jarmača comes from the word jaram, a wooden frame to which the saw blade is vertically attached.

The operating principle is based on the water wheel driven by water, which in turn moves the jaram (saw) in the upward-downward direction through the propulsion mechanism, simultaneously pushing the log cart forward. The lateral displacement and the desired width of the cut wood are determined manually.

The sawmill facility is mostly made out of wood. An outdoor facility with a smaller accumulation and a water wheel was

LOG CART (TROLLEY) RAIL (ROAD) FLOODGATE AND SURGE TANK TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT The sawmill building has an elongated L-shaped layout and it is divided into two parts. The first one houses the sawmill, and the other has a hearth where sawyer used to reside. A tall stone retaining wall was built on the east side in order to level out the terrain, and a smaller stone retaining wall was built on the north side of the building for easier access and log handling. The structure of the building consists of grade beams and ceiling beams connected by vertical pillars.

The roof has two eaves covered with shingles.

The sawmill was in use from its construction until 1980, and only occasionally since then. Due to war and neglect, the building and the facility deteriorated and were in poor condition. In 2004, the sawmill building and facility were renovated using resources supplied by the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, with the participation of the Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Plitvice Lakes Tourist Board. The structural parts were repaired, and the missing parts were reconstructed.

In 2015, a private owner sold the sawmill, which is now owned by the Public Institution of the Plitvice Lakes National Park. It is a protected cultural object under designation Z-6270. It primarily serves for educational and tourism purposes.

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Znanstveno-stručni centar ‘Dr. Ivo Pevalek’ 53231 Plitvička Jezera — hr tel +385 (0)53 751 015, +385 (0)53 751 014 e-mail info@np-plitvicka-jezera.hr web www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr

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Plitvice Lakes National Park is part of Lika Destination – destination of protected areas and a gastro-destination which offers an unique combination of inland and the sea, where you have the opportunity to experience no less than three climates in an only 30-minute drive, like in few other places, and truly experience this one-of-a-kind phenomenon of contrasts.

impressum — publisher Public Institution Plitivice Lakes National Park photos Public Institution Plitivice Lakes National Park Archives text National Park Conservation Service