National and Maritime Parks in Croatia
Brijuni National Park
The Brijuni archipelago, with the surrounding submersed world, is an Istrian National Park, and it is forbidden to sail at a distance less than 300 m from the coast. Thanks to the rich flora and fauna and to the renowned historical and natural heritage, that park is considered one of the most beautiful archipelagos of the Mediterranean.
Brijuni islands spread along the south coast of Istrian peninsula. The archipelago consists of 2 major islands and 12 islets and is about 3 km away from the coast. The major islands are Veliki Brijun and Mali Brijun, where the beaches are mainly rocky. In the end of the 19th century, a small portion of the island(s) was deforested to install landscape motives in an enormous garden that became an exclusive holiday destination, rich in meadows where herds of dear, fallow-deer and moufflons pastured. Botanical gardens of Brijuni islands started to be populated by animals coming from all over the world in and in 1912 a zoo was established. The island used to be the summer residence of president Tito. The historical and natural heritage of the islands is amazing, whilst human traces on the islands go back to Neolith. Among numerous archaeological findings the most important is the pre-historic settlement on the hill - Gradina. In Verige bay there are remains of a luxurious Roman villa and of a temple. On the west coast, there is late-ancient Byzantine castrum and the Byzantine basilica of St. Mary from the 6th century.
For more information:
Brijuni National Park
52214 Brijuni
tel: +385 (0) 52 525 888
fax: +385 (0) 52 521 367
e-mail: brijuni@brijuni.hr
www.brijuni.hr
Kornati Islands National Park
The legend says that God, after the creation of the world, found a small heap of rocks in his hands that he simply threw behind his shoulders, and thus created the most famous archipelago of the Mediterranean, consisting of 140 islands, out of which as many as 110 situated in the national park.
That is a composition of nude rocks and of clear transparent waters, rocky walls perpendicular to the sea. The blue colours of the Kornati sea is more accentuated by the contrast with the whitish and greyish colour of the calcareous cliffs, stone of which are made those islands erecting between the sea and the sky, with a stone coast, abounding in crystals of the sea salt, in sunny days and with a sky with no clouds. The promontories of the Kornati islands are known for their height - reaching peaks of 100 metres above sea level and for their rocky walls perpendicular to the sea, to reach the depth of some hundreds metres. That zone is rich in animal and vegetation species, both land and marine. A real paradise for pleasure boaters, rich in bays, pleasant ports and beaches hidden, an obligatory destination for every sailor visiting the Adriatic. The forest part of Kornati makes the Nature Park of Telašcica, one of the safest natural coves to moor, but also a place where a natural phenomenon can be seen: the salted lake of Mir whose waters are warmer than those of the sea.
For more information:
Kornati National Park
Butina 2
HR - 22243 MURTER
Tel.: + 385 22 435 740
Fax: + 385 22 435 058
E-mail: kornati@kornati.hr
www.kornati.hr
Mljet National Park
Not far from Croatian towns of Dubrovnik,
Korčula and Lastovo, you find the National Park Island of Mljet, consisting of two salted Lakes Malo Jezero and Veliko Jezero, the peak of Montokuc from where you can admire a breath-taking view. There are two marvellous salted lakes on the island (created by the flood in the Karst depressed bottom), surrounded by thick forests of wild pines and holm-oaks, and Mediterranean macchia as well. The coastal area of the park is characterised by steep rocky walls with openings containing caves. The sea is clean, crystal clear, the coasts are mild and sandy. You can also admire architectural masterpieces on the island, among which a Benedictine monastery from 12th century, on the islet of St. Mary (in the centre of the bigger lake), and also the remains of two ancient Roman palaces and the basilica of Polača. Bays in the locality of Polača and Pomena will fascinate, first of all, sailors.
For more information:
NACIONALNI PARK MLJET
20 226 Govedari
Pristaište 2
tel: +385 20 744 041
+385 20 744 058
fax: +385 20 744 043
e-mail: np-mljet@np-mljet.hr
www.np-mljet.hr
