Fig. 8

a Balanced and kinematically forward modelled central Velebit cross-section. The frontal SW part of the section is dominated by thin-skinned high frequency deformation of the Cretaceous and Eocene strata. The central part, comprising the Velebit mountain, Lika, and the Plitvice Fault, showing thick-skinned deformation of a blind SW-vergent duplex and a set of five NE-vergent backthrusts (numbered according to their relative initiation), forming a complex Velebit–Lika–Plitvice triangle zone. This triangle structure has its basal detachment in the Pre-Carboniferous basement. The passive roof thrust detachment is located within the Permian or Middle Triassic syn-rift sediments. The northern part is characterized by thin-skinned deformation (nappe stack) and thick-skinned deformation of the Pre-Karst, thrusted on top of the High Karst. The northern segment is cut by the regional dextral transpressive Split-Karlovac Fault. b–e Show individual deformation steps of the kinematic forward modelling. The amount of crustal shortening for the High Karst and Dalmatian units here is 94 km. c Shows the partial retrodeformation of the LFS and d shows the retrodeformation of LFS and PFS and captures the first contractional deformation along the cross-section, showing the internal High Karst nappe stack and the frontal thin-skinned deformation. e Shows the initial undeformed layer cake model. Note that the modelled Mesozoic extension amounts to 4 km, illustrated in the frontal part of the restoration steps. For an animated version of this figure, see Additional file 2