Editing Velebit (section)

{{short description|Mountain range in Croatia}}
{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2010}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Velebit
| photo = Svetirok.tunnel.JPG
| photo_caption = The [[Sveti Rok Tunnel]] passes underneath Velebit.
| elevation_m = 1757
| elevation_ref = 
| prominence_m = 1059 
| prominence_ref = <ref>https://worldribus.org/balkan-peninsula/</ref>
| map = Croatia
| map_caption = The highest peak of Velebit
| label_position = left
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| listing = Ribu
| location = [[Croatia]]
| range = [[Dinaric Alps]]
| coordinates = {{coord|44|32|N|15|14|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = 
| first_ascent = 
| easiest_route = 
}}

'''Velebit''' ({{IPA|hr|ʋe̞le̞bit|pron}}; {{langx|la|Mons Baebius}}; {{langx|it|Alpi Bebie}}) is the largest, though not the highest, [[mountain range]] in [[Croatia]]. The range forms a part of the [[Dinaric Alps]] and is located along the [[Adriatic]] coast, separating it from [[Lika]] in the interior. Velebit begins in the northwest near [[Senj]] with the Vratnik mountain pass and ends 145&nbsp;km to the southeast near the source of the [[Zrmanja]] river northwest of [[Knin]].

Its highest peak is the Vaganski vrh at 1,757 m.<ref name="dzs-yb2k9-geo">{{cite web |year=2009 |title=Geographical and meteorological data |url=http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/ljetopis/2009/PDF/01-bind.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20200817163642/https://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/ljetopis/2009/PDF/01-bind.pdf |archive-date=2020-08-17 |access-date=2011-09-19 |work=Statistical Yearbook |publisher=[[Croatian Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref> Major mountain passes on Velebit include the aforementioned Vratnik or Senjsko bilo at 694 m.a.s.l.,<ref name="dzs-yb2k9-geo"/> where the ''[[Josephina (road)|Josephina]]'' connects [[Senj]] with [[Josipdol]]; Oštarijska vrata at 928 m.a.s.l. that connects [[Karlobag]] and [[Gospić]];<ref name="dzs-yb2k9-geo"/> and Prezid at 766 m.a.s.l. that connects [[Obrovac, Croatia|Obrovac]] and [[Gračac]].<ref name="dzs-yb2k9-geo"/>

Velebit is characterized by its simple, solid form, stiff cliffs, the lack of vegetation on the seaward side (towards the [[Velebit Channel]]), and the wood-covered slopes of the Lika side. The basic geological characteristic of the mountains is karst; flora and fauna are abundant. The whole mountain range is protected as a [[nature park]]. The most popular spots on Velebit are: the peak of Vučjak (1,644 m) above Zavižan, the botanical gardens and [[Velebit caves|caves]], [[Northern Velebit National Park#Hajdučki kukovi|Hajdučki]] and [[Rožanski kukovi]], [[Štirovača]], the [[Northern Velebit National Park]] and the [[Paklenica|Paklenica National Park]].<ref name ="Naprijed">Naklada Naprijed, ''The Croatian Adriatic Tourist Guide'', pg.  140–141, Zagreb (1999), {{ISBN|953-178-097-8}}</ref> The [[Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service]] has a permanent measurement station at Zavižan.<ref name="dzs-yb2k9-geo"/>