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Mljet Island

Dalmatia - Dubrovnik

Because of its unique original beauty, the island of Mljet, meets all the criteria is rightfully holds the title of National Park. Mljet is the largest Croatian Dalmatian island, located in the vicinity of Dubrovnik, Korcula and Peljesac peninsula.
Mljet Island
Mljet Island
Photo: Dreamstime / Lianem

Mljet is situated in Dubrovnik archipelago, and is its largest island. Its area is 100.4 km2. Elongated in shape because it is a long 37 kilometers wide, only 3 kilometers. From the Peljesac peninsula by the Mljet channel. It stretches from the northwest - southeast. It is considered the most wooded island in the Adriatic Sea, more than 70% of the surface is covered with forests, and within the national park and the coverage exceeds 90%, and therefore has the nickname of the greenest island in Croatian.

The highest peak is a large city (514 m), while at the same time many peaks exceeding 300 meters. Along the island there are many karst valleys (fields), and hundreds of smaller valleys. About Mljet has more islands and reefs.

Mljetska coast is very rugged, and are especially prominent Northwest Coast (Big and Little Lake, Bay Lastovska Pomena and Polače Bay) and South Coast (Saplunara).

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Island of the documents encountered under the names: Melissa de, de Meleto, the Venetian, de la Melida, de Melt, de Malta, di Meleda, Melitensis Melitae all equally beautiful and melodious, like himself. Keyword Melita - Melita in the Greek language has the same meaning as the Latin word for honey - mell, Mellis. And it makes sense that his name comes from the word honey, because in the past lived in the forests of his many bee colonies. Their combs were made in the hollows of ancient trees and rocks.

The present name for the island of Mljet and Mljećanin for its citizens, and reflect both the beauty of its coastline and forests, and special remarks for the world, isolated and untouched in the solitude of the high seas and ancient forests. Although from birth to death, were surrounded by the sea, their saying "Praise the sea, stick to the end!" Speaks volumes about the nature Mljećana. It should not be surprising because the island due to its isolation autarhičan developed a way of life. Mljećanin predominantly was facing the woods, fields, olive trees, grapevines, goats, sheep and donkeys as well as the source of life. More he was estranged from the mainland due to storms, strong winds and primitive crafts in the past. But how he won his strong will and the rainforest, and from it created a fertile field and won time and fear of powerful Huke sea and XV. And the sixteenth century onwards Mljećani are excellent sailors on their sailing ships and Dubrovnik. Sail the Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean, and go to the Atlantic Ocean to America. But the old adage remains, because in bad weather many storms and always stayed in the blue depths. The first inhabitants of Mljet Peljesac peninsula and come to the valley of the Neretva. These were the Illyrians who were in the second millennium BC, gradually settled the entire island. From the Illyrian razdobllja preserved numerous works - Gradac and graves - cairns. When the demolition of some Illyrian bunch of them were found eyeglass spiral pendants of bronze wire, bronze studs and rings, beads and glassy look. This suggests that the prehistoric inhabitants of Mljet, then traded, make contact and exchanging products with other residents along the Dalmatian and the interior of the Dinaric hinterland. The remains of stone forts - Gradac, are best preserved on the hill above Big Gradac Gradac Great Lakes and the Guidance, above the source of Vodice in Babino Polje.

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Mljet belongs to the Mediterranean climate with dry, clear and very warm summers and rainy, but mild winters, with most rainfall in late autumn and early winter. In the summer months usually blows burin, night and morning and afternoon turns into a refreshing breeze. There are periods when the last days of calm sea, the sea is quite calm, leaves no flashing. Then a real pleasure to swim along the coast of Mljet and admire the clear waters and lush. Rain during this period rarely falls, except for occasional brief storm with winds from the sea. During the winter months kasnojesenskih strong wind blows and then it is very fresh. However, these periods are not long, because they alternate with periods of warmer southerly winds. Then the temperature rises rapidly and reaches more than 15 C. The snow is a rarity, and when I fall, is quickly dissolved. It usually comes from the south over the open sea. Early the fall, even most of the winter, mild and leaves and flowers are many types of shrubs, trees and fruit trees, such as heather, myrtle, strawberry, pomegranate, orange, etc. Mljet has an ideal climate for the development of winter tourism.

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Due to very mild Mediterranean climate and soil composition on the island of Mljet is developed lush vegetation that occurs in two basic forms: Aleppo pine and evergreen holm oak leaf oak forest and anthropogenically degraded vegetation forms which include underbrush, bushes and rocky. Apart from the Aleppo pine, Mljet is also known for its forests of holm oak-holm. The area between Saplunara Vratničke grows wild and cultivated pine or pine groves. This is the southeastern part of the island is under special protection as a natural reserve areas. Specific ecological environment is the main characteristic of isolation and small size of the insular environment, and forest cover and poor napučenovostnost, enable the development of many animal species. The island has marten, wild cat, fallow deer, wild boar, hare, mouflon, wild domestic goat, mouse, dormouse, hedgehog, frog, turtle, small grasshoppers, numerous birds: blackbird, Cucki, partridge, pheasant, warbler, sparrow, wild pigeon, seagull, hawk, and others, and snakes and legless neotrovnice-Copperhead. The richness of the island's flora and allows the development of hunting, especially hunting wild svinje.O insular fauna concerned Department of National Park Mljet and Hunting Club "Deer".

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National park "Mljet" was established in 1960th as the oldest national park in the islands. It is located on the west side of the island and occupies an area of ​​5375 hectares. Its boundaries encompass about one-third of the island with the mainland adjacent islets and coastal sea belt width 500 m from the farthest point of land. As a unique example of the distinctive vegetation, with large and small lakes as a geological and oceanographic phenomenon, this area is significant and well-known and globally. Exceptional cultural and historic heritage in an unbroken succession dating from the time of the Illyrian tribes, the Roman Empire, the Republic of Dubrovnik and reaches to the present day life of modern man is characterized by stable conditions of life in harmony with nature.

Luxuriant vegetation of the island, especially in the area of ​​National Park, Mljet is obtained as the Green Island ". The remains of the Mediterranean rainforest, native oak trees are present only in fragments, and is best preserved in the coppice area Great Valley. Aleppo pine is the most beautiful and best preserved forest type and species in the Mediterranean. A number of endemic species including the Star thistle, Jupiter's beard and woody spurge is found on cliffs of the southern coast of the island.

One of the peculiarities of the island are typical of karst underground habitats: the half-cave, caves and pits, with endemic fauna of invertebrates, including some of his research named after the island of Mljet, where they were first discovered.

Mljet lakes are its current appearance of deep sea bay received after the last ice age, when the ice melts there was a gradual increase in sea level where the karst depressions, where the lake today, first began to meet with water, a further increase in sea level and sea. Today the lake is a sea seas linked Vratosolina narrow passageway, through which the words exchanged water under the influence of the tides.

Imposing a Benedictine monastery and church on the island of St. Mary the Great Lake that dates from the 12th century and the remains of the bridge at the entrance to the Great Lake Mills with the 17th century, which was unique in that it is used the energy of currents for its start-up and grind grain. The monastery continued to work and when in the early 15th Century annexed Dubrovnik Republic, and extinguished in the 19th century, the arrival of Napoleon's power.

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Mention of the recent settlement, originated from the fishing village Goveđari base population. Decision on the establishment of fishing cooperatives, and the subsequent construction of the hotel "Ulysses" 1978th years, this village became the main center for the reception organized visitors NP Mljet. "

Soline hamlet at the junction of the high seas and the Great Lakes, was founded by a family Sršen 1825th year. Upon submission of the village was named for its salt production by the Benedictines as the entrance to the channel very shallow slope and a slight decrease, and suitable for evaporation of the sea.

The natural harbor Polače, sheltered from strong winds located palacij emanating from the second - 4 century and the largest buildings from Roman times to the Adriatic after the palace. Palacija addition, there are also remains of thermal baths, arsenal, sandy beaches for stranding ships and underwater remains of the shipyard, and the two basilicas of the fifth century.

Baba House is a picturesque fishing village on the shore of the Great Lakes between the wharf and the small bridge. The first residents were the Duke family. From Baba House is a beautiful view of the island of St.. Mary and Njivice peninsula.

Njivice are located in the heart of the national park, along the shores of the Great Lakes, opposite the Baba House. They are located 1000 m from the monastery of Saint Mary. Lie along the sea, secluded, hidden from the curious in the woods of century old pines.

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The rich and tumultuous life on the island witnessed the traditional costumes of the islanders. Women's costume remained the same, while the male. Based on women's dress makes red skirt - blanket, a woolen shirt and white that stands out in contrast with the red. The original part of the costume is the belt, once a day usually silken cloth, which the women wore around their waists. The island is cultivated silkworm, so as shirts, stockings (socks), and belts for special occasions were made of silk. Chest and back as an extension of skirt colors are vibrant and are probably the remains of the original dresses. At the head of women have a cap - Mljet embroidery, mostly red. On it is placed over the patch - a scarf decorated with lace and embroidery and red ribbons. The feet women have white socks and red shoes.

Mljetska weir is a traditional fishing tackle made ​​of young rods Somine, Mrče (myrtle) or leprike, wicker woven triple row: two rows of oblique cross, the third row horizontally circular.

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