The so-called Maksimir Forest, first of its kind in south-east Europe, open as a park in 1794. through the initiative of the bishop Maksimilijan Vrhovec. The park was made in british-landscape style by bishop Juraj Haulik.
Lakes
In this park six lakes were formed during the time from which there are five left and they are simply called: First, Second, Third, Forth, Fifth. In 1839.the first one was built next to the Maksimir street, two years later the second one, then the third which today makes the forth dried out lake. Artificially formed lakes meet the water from the Bliznec stream which directly goes into the second and the fifth lake.
Hiking trails in this forest are very well organized so its easy to use the roads to get to the desired destination.
The First Maksimir lake is the secondary entrance from the Maksimir street right next to the north stand of the Maksimir stadium.
3rd. Lake
The Third lake is on the opposite side of one and two. Lakes sourrounded by oak trees with a small island in the middle of the third lake and thats where you could take a small boat during early 90s but unfortunately they forbid it.
4th lake
Forth lake, formerly the third, built by bishop Haulik between 1853. and 1862. was put very close to the natural stream Bliznec in the north-east side of the park facing a bee hive. It remained empty from 1975.-2007. when it was renewed in a part of a project financed by croatian waters company. Its 135m above sea level, cowering 1.1 hectare while the depth is between half a meter and a meter. It feeds on the water from the fifth lake. As a part of a renewal they fixed the Pavillion Brezova that used to be a fishermans hut which was destroyed back in 1940s.
5th lake
The Fifth lake is located at the north part of the park Maksimir and is the biggest lake in the park. It takes about three hectares and it lies 142m above sea level. The new dam was renewed after the destruction of the old one. The detph of the water is 6 meters, the water comes from an area called Mirni Dol and with the newly arranged drain from Bliznec. Its legal to do some recrational/sport fishining here.
After mentioning 5 lakes, there is also a sixth lake called Ribnjak , it used to be by the stream called Ivancic, it disappeared during wiedening of the river bed. Today Ribnjak does not exist but the dent is still visible on the place where the river bed used to be. Ribnjak was originally built for fish farming.