Kornati National Park

Kornati National Park

Croatia's Kornati archipelago, sometimes called the Stomorski islands, is situated in the Šibenik-Knin County in the northern region of Dalmatia, west of Šibenik and south of Zadar. The Kornati are the densest archipelago in the Mediterranean water, spanning 35 kilometers (22 miles) and consisting of 89 islands, some large and others small, within a water area of roughly 320 square kilometers (124 square miles).They extend 13 km (8 miles) from northeast to southwest (from Gangarol to Mana) and northwest to southeast (from the island of Balabra to Samograd). The name of the largest island, Kornat, is the plural version of the name of the archipelago. Kornati has no permanent settlements. Landowners on the mainland use simple homes in protected coves like Vrulje, Kravjačica, Lavsa, and others as temporary shelter. The majority of landowners are from Dugi Otok and the island of Murter.The average water temperature is 14 to 15 °C (57 to 59 °F) in the winter and 22.8 °C (73.0 °F) in the summer. The average monthly temperature in January is 7.3 °C (45.1 °F), while in July it is 23.9 °C (75.0 °F).

In order to preserve the islands and their marine environment, the 89 southernmost of the 140-plus islands, islets, and reefs that make up the Kornati archipelago were designated as Nacionalni Park Kornati in 1980. The Donji Kornati, which consists of the island of Kornat and its surrounding islets, divided from the island of Piškera and its surrounding islets by a channel, is largely located inside the national park's boundaries.The national park includes 109 islands, of which 76 are less than 1 hectare in size. Of the total land surface area of Kornati, 62 km2 (24 sq mi), or 85%, is stony, and only 5% has been cultivated

 

The Kornati archipelago, which is 35 kilometers long and 13 kilometers wide and covers an area of about 320 square kilometers, is made up of 89 sporadic islets, both large and small.
Although there are a few extremely simple stone homes scattered here and there, the islets are rocky, dry, and have little fertile soil. They are also essentially deserted. Originally constructed as one-room shelters by shepherds and fishermen in the area, they are now frequently utilized as seasonal seafood restaurants or vacation getaways.Private sailing boats are the ideal means of exploring this breathtakingly beautiful coastline area, and Biograd Na Moru is the closest charter base. From Zadar or Sibenik on the mainland, one can easily take an excursion boat to the Kornati for a day trip.  The four largest islands, Levrnaka, the second largest karst rock-area, Tarac, Svršata Vela island, Mana island, Piškera island, Panitula Vela island, the picturesque Lavsa Bay, the resort island Ravni Žakan, Smokvica Vela island, the Opat peninsula, Samograd island, the Purara reserve for marine life, Vrgada and Gangarol islands, the shallow channel Mala Proversa, the oval-shaped Taljurič island, Špinuta Bay, and Stivina Bay are the most significant locations on the Kornati islands.The names of the islands Babina Guzica and Kurba Vela, which in Croatian mean prostitution and buttocks, provide a chance to explain the numerous offensive names that are officially assigned to numerous locations across the Kornati archipelago. At the end of the 19th century, Austrian surveyors arrived to document the archipelago, but their local guides made fun of them by giving the different places obscene names.With a total size of 32.44 square kilometers (12.53 square miles), Kornat is the largest of the islands and makes up two-thirds of the park's land area. The island is only 2.5 km (2 mi) wide, despite being 25.2 km (15.7 mi) long. On the island of the same name, which is connected to the mainland by a drawbridge near the village of Tisno, the park is administered from the town of Murter.The Kornati Islands can be reached by:Any boat that can travel to sea, including your ownOne of the numerous native boatmen from the mainland who provide transport services

Numerous agencies provide this trip, which can be organized from Murter, Šibenik, Zadar, or another location along the Adriatic coast. The boat journey, a welcome drink, the admittance ticket, lunch, and a tour guide are all included in the price, which ranges from 35 to 40 euros per person.Without a doubt, Kornati would be Croatia's most brilliant gem if it were a crown! But this park is about more than just stunning views. In addition to showcasing Croatia's natural wonders, it provides stories about its rich history and culture.

 

By Admin

19 May 2025

Similar Train Routes

Mljet National Park

Mljet National Park

The western portion of the Adriatic island of Mljet, located in southern Croatia, is home to the Mljet National Park. Its territory spans over 5,300 hectares (53 km2) and comprises the western portion of the island, Veliko Jezero, Malo Jezero, Soline Bay, and a sea belt 500 meters wide from the most notable cape of Mljet. The towns of Goveđari, Polače, and Pomena, as well as Veliko jezero with the Isle of St. Mary and Malo jezero, are in the park's center. The inaugural declaration of the Park was made on November 11, 1960.You can trek up the hills (200 m) to gain views of the breathtaking landscape from the hills above the Mljet Park and seashore. Pomena's shopping market is the ideal location if you need to buy for necessities in the park.The communities of Pomena and Polače provide access to the park from either the north or west shore. Visitors must pay for their admission at a kiosk in Polače or Pomena, even though there isn't an official entrance to the National Park per se. Both kiosks have maps of the Park and informational pamphlets and leaflets.Admission costs: Adult: 70 Kuna at low season; 125 Kuna at high season Kids and students: 50 Kuna for low season; 70 Kuna for high season Children under seven enter free of charge. 30 kunas for a return ferry ticket to Sv Marija Islet 400 Kuna for a park guided tour, which lasts roughly two hours; additional tours are also offered.

Zagreb's Gornji Grad

Zagreb's Gornji Grad

One of the districts of Zagreb, Croatia, is called Gornji Grad–Medveščak. The name Gornji Grad means "Upper Town" because of its historical position on the city's hillside, above Donji Grad ("Lower Town"). Situated in the city's center, the district is home to 30,962 people, who are dispersed throughout 10.19 km2 (3.93 sq mi), according to the 2011 census.There are many historical landmarks and tourist attractions in the Gornji Grad–Medveščak area. This region includes Gradec and Kaptol, the two separate medieval Zagreb centers that make up today's Upper Town. Gornji Grad is home to the Croatian Parliament, the city's cathedral, and the well-known pedestrian café strip Tkalčićeva. Other notable items may be found outside of the oldest historical towns, like the city's imposing cemetery, Mirogoj, which is farther north and was constructed since 1876.Four additional districts border it: Črnomerec to the west, Maksimir to the east, Podsljeme to the north, and Donji Grad to the south.Gornji Grad's most significant arterial route, Medveščak, runs between its southern and northern borders. It begins as a little Ribnjak street next to the Ribnjak park, widens and changes its name to Medveščak street until Gupčeva zvijezda, and then changes its name once again to Ksaver in the north.

Marjan Park

Marjan Park

On the peninsula of Split, Croatia's second-biggest city, is the hill known as Marjan. It is a unique site, entirely encircled by the city and the sea and covered in a dense Mediterranean pine forest. Originally utilized as a park by the locals as early as the third century, it is now a popular weekend getaway spot and a metropolitan recreational hub. Surrounded by a picturesque forest, it is also the location of a number of beaches, jogging routes, tennis courts, and the city zoo. The Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (Institut za oceanografiju i ribarstvo, IZOR) is located at the tip of the peninsula. With a height of 178 meters, Marjan provides a view of the entire city, the neighboring islands, and the mountains of Kozjak and Mosor.Bene, Kašjuni, and Obojena beaches are situated at the base of Marjan Hill. At a height of 122 meters (400 feet), the maximum temperature recorded at the local weather station since records began in 1948 was 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) on July 5, 1950.On January 23, 1963, the lowest recorded temperature was -9.0 °C (15.8 °F). Marjan Park is well-known for both the sports it offers visitors and its natural beauty. Along with the various park excursions, the panoramic vista is one of the park's greatest features. In and around the park, there are also cafes, eateries, beaches, and places of worship.  

Hvar Town

Hvar Town

On the same-named island in Croatia's Split-Dalmatia County sits the town and port of Hvar. The town is the largest settlement on the island of Hvar, with 3,771 residents, while the municipality has 4,251 (2011) residents. It is located across from the neighboring towns of Stari Grad and Jelsa on a harbor on the island's south shore.The town of Hvar has a long and illustrious history as an Adriatic cultural and commercial hub. With a powerful stronghold above that surrounded the town walls and guarded the port, this commune, which was a part of the Venetian Empire from the 13th to the 18th century, was a significant naval base.[4] As wealth increased, so did cultural life, and one of Europe's oldest theaters still standing, which inaugurated in 1612, is located in Hvar.The walls, which date back seven hundred years, as well as numerous public structures and noble homes from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries, are still standing.The Hygienic Society of Hvar (Higijeničko društvo u Hvaru), which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018, changed the course of the town's and the island's economy once the port of Hvar was no longer used as a military post in the 19th century. It was established in 1868 with the goal of offering "good care for visitors" and was one of the first "tourist boards" in Europe. The Arsenal, Loggia, the Croatian Institute, and the Hvar Heritage Museum with its art and archeological collections are only a few of the town's many hotels, galleries, museums, and exhibitions today.Located in a charming natural bay and shielded to the south by the Pakleni Otoci island series, the port of Hvar provides a year-round safe refuge for boats. Particularly during the summer, the village is a popular port of call for yachts traveling the Adriatic. The port of Hvar has frequent catamaran ferry services to Split, Brač, Korčula, Lastovo, and Vis.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park

One of Croatia's biggest and oldest national parks is Plitvice Lakes National Park. Because of its exceptional and charming network of tufa lakes, caverns, and interconnected waterfalls, Plitvice Lakes National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979.Established in 1949, the national park is located near the Bosnia and Herzegovina border in the mountainous karst region of central Croatia. The Croatian interior and the Adriatic coastline region are connected by the significant north-south route that runs through the national park area. Over 296.85 square kilometers, or 73,350 acres, make up the protected region. Lika-Senj County owns about 90% of this region, with Karlovac County owning the remaining 10%.With over a million people annually, the national park is Croatia's most visited tourist destination.Depending on the season, admission fees range from 10 to 40 euros per adult per day in the summer (as of 2024). The lakes of the national park are known across the world for their waterfall formations. From the surface, sixteen lakes are visible. Numerous tiny rivers and underground karst rivers come together to form these lakes. Each lake follows the flow of water and is connected to the others. Travertine, which is naturally deposited by moss, algae, and bacteria, acts as a dam between them. The interaction of water, air, and plants results in the especially delicate travertine barriers. In the middle of the Dinaric Alps, between the Lička Plješivica peak in the east and the Mala Kapela mountain in the west, the Plitvice Lakes have developed in a depression. The national park is situated near Slunj and Korenica on the D1 Zagreb–Split national highway, which runs across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ogulin, Rakovica, Otočac, Gospić, and Bihać are some of the largest Bosnian municipalities in the vicinity.