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Island Mljet
British Journal of Guardian is among the ten most beautiful Croatian island of Mljet island included the assessment that Mljet
has completely untouched nature. Jacques Cousteau considered this area as one of the most intriguing and
the most beautiful diving locations of the world.
Mljet is the largest island in southern Dalmatia. Mljet is also the largest island which is located near Dubrovnik.
On the north side looking towards the island of Mljet Peljesac peninsula and the island group Elafiti. On the western side closest to the island of Korcula,
southwest of the Lastovo and its archipelago. Around the island of Mljet there are more islands and reefs.
Mljet is the eighth largest inhabited island. Surface of the island is about 100km2. Mljet is about 37 kilometers long, and
approximately 3km wide.
Mljet coast is very indented, especially the northwestern part where there are large and the small lake,
Lastovska Pomena bay and the Gulf Polače and south-eastern coast (Saplunara).
The highest peak on the island is a great town - 514m. Mljet has more peaks with a height of about 300m, more fields and small
valley.
Air on the island is typical Mediterranean with long dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Mljet is exposed to
strong south winds in the fall and spring, winter and often unpleasant storm. In the summer, in the second part of the day, blows a
pleasant living west wind - mistral - suitable for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Mljet is a sparsely populated island with about 1200 residents in 14 villages. The largest village is Babino polje with about 350
inabitants, and just Polače, Sobra, and Goveđari have more than 100 people.
Mljet is the only Adriatic island where the inhabitants used ijekavian speech.
Population is engaged in agriculture - olives, wine, herbs - fishing and tourism.
Over 70% of the island of Mljet is covered with trees, Aleppo pines and evergreen oak, on the
the eastern part of the island around Saplunara gentle pine, pine or umbrella-pines.
Of wildlife on the island of Mljet,the most are wild boars and deers. A hundred years ago Mongoose were brought to the
island to rarefy the vipers. When the mongoose
captured all the snakes and most lizards, they began to hunt chickens. Today, the biggest problem of the islanders are the Mongoose
Since Mljet is far enough from the coast, around the island there are still a lot of white and blue fish and lobsters.
In the past the coast of Mljet was the Mediterranean monk seal habitat.
Coast of Mljet is suitable for sea kayaking, scuba diving, fishing and spear fishing.
Mljet has ferry lines with Peljesac (5NM), and recently, after the port in Sobre gets more and more
the importance of connections with Dubrovnik (ferry and catamaran).
Foto: www.destinacije.com - island Mljet
Nacionalni park Mljet
Mljet National Park covers an area of 5375ha and is located in the northwestern part of the island of Mljet.
Declared in the year 1960.
The main features of the park are:
- reef indented coastline, cliffs, caves and islets collapsed on the side of the open sea.
Endemic plants growing on coastal rocks such as Dubrovnik knapweed, capers
- Two salt "lakes", Great and Little Lake are connected by a narrow channel from the sea and each other. Prior to the year 2000th those were freshwater lakes.
Big Lake area of 145 hectares and a maximum depth of 46 meters and a little lake
area of 24 hectares and maximum depth of 29 meters, its beauty and secrets of attracting naturalists and
all other nature lovers.
- National park is interwoven network of excursion trails along the shore of Little and the Great Lakes,
to the peaks of mountains, rocky coastline to the open sea, through forests of Aleppo pine and oak.
- Forests of Aleppo pine and oak trees on about 70% of Mljet, which are all down to the shores of both lakes.
- The island of St. Matthew in the big lake. The island was a Benedictine monastery and church was built in the 12th century.
- Polače - Roman palaces, forts and early Christian basilica.
History of the island Mljet
Mljet is first mentioned under the name of Melita (Melita) from the Greek word 'mellisa' (Melitta), which means honey.
Owes many swarms of bees that lived in its forests. The oldest historical mention of which originates
Mljet dating from the fourth century BC in the writings of Greek authors. In the past twenty chapter Scylax 'Periplusa'
first mentioned the island of Mljet. It is believed that Homer thought of the island of Mljet Ogiglijom where Odysseus was shipwrecked
, and was captured by nymph Calypso who kept him as a lover 7 years, and released him only on the orders of Zeus.
Odysseus's Cave is located near the town of Babino Polje and represents an interesting natural phenomenon and the sight of the island of Mljet.
As they settled Issa (Vis), Korkyra Melaina (Korcula), Pharos (Hvar) and other islands along the Adriatic coast, Mljet
used as a shelter from bad weather, usually in the vicinity of the port Polac(e sources of drinking water.
The first inhabitants who settled the island of Mljet in the II century BC were Illyrians from the Peljesac peninsula and the valley of the Neretva.
From this period have been preserved many works of stone, while traces of the Roman period saw a number of amphorae in the flooded
ships.
The first concrete details of Mljet residents can be found in the work of the Roman writer Appian 'De rebus illyricus' from I
century BC. He describes the wars of the Roman emperor Octavian, with the Illyrians on the island of Korcula and Mljet
pirate attacks on its ships.
From the western part of the island then was created the Roman imperial possession, and a palace for the property manager
built in Starigrad today the Diocletian Palace in Split, the most important cultural monument in Dalmatia.
In VIII century the central part of the island inhabited by Croats Neretljani. Mid-12th century
the feudal lords of the island become Benedictins of pulsan order, on the island in the middle of the Great
Lakes and raise their abbey church. In 1345. monks signed a contract in which the inhabitants of Mljet
release of the estates in exchange for 300 hiperpers annual fee. Since then, the monastery,
through many centuries, has been acting as cultural, religious and political center of the island of Mljet.
Only in the nineteenth century the monks allow settling in Mljet National Park. First occurs
Govedari village whose name speaks of its occupation of the first inhabitants.
During the reign of Napoleon, the Benedictine order was abolished.
At the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Austria is trying to improve life on the island
and foresters take care of maintaining the forest. Large forest fire in 1917th burned the old
forests.
Due to bad connections Mljet has long been isolated.
Today the population is engaged in agriculture, especially wine and olive oil,
and tourism and hospitality are developed by establishing a better relationship with the island of Mljet Peljesac and Dubrovnik
and new settlements are growing along the coast.
Mljet Map
Mljet - Culture
Goveđari - island Mljet Apartments (1) Pomena - island Mljet Hotels (1) Prožura - island Mljet Apartments (1) Saplunara - island Mljet Apartments (7) Soline - island Mljet Apartments (1) Camps on Mljet
Autocamp Mungos - Babino Polje between Odysseus caves and beache Sutmiholjska -
The camp can accommodate up to 250 people in mobile homes and tents. Restaurant, reception, money exchange, bar,
market and rent-a-car.
Camp Mljet - Pomena 300 persons, bar, shop, grill. Water sports, cycling
Autocamp Lovor - Babino Polje in the shade of pines, olive and laurel. The camp is standardly equipped.
Suitable for water sports and sailing.
Restorani Mljet
Restaurants Odisej - Pomena
Tavern Triton - Babino polje
Restaurants Melita - Island Sv. Marije, National park Mljet
Tavern Barba Ive - Goveđari
Mljet - Entertainment and nightlife
If you are looking for night life on the island of Mljet, then you have missed a place to rest.
Mljet offers peace, quiet, green and blue, sporting activities on land and sea.
The only place on the island, where more people gather is Hotel Odysseus.
Hotel offers a variety of activities such as sea kayaking, scuba diving, mountain biking, hiking the surrounding hills and around the Great
and Little Lake. For those who need a little youthning, Hotel Odysseus has wellness center with massage
and "beauty" treatments.
If you like fishing , the island of Mljet is the right place for you. You can arrange with your host and go fishing with him.
In addition, you yourself, if you know, enjoy the hunt from the shore and the white fish from the bottom. And then in the evening to bake on grill.
If you are an expert on fishing, on the island of Mljet restaurants offer a wide selection of fish and seafood with local wine and olive
ulje. Every form of fishing is prohibited in the Big and Little Lake. Licenses for recreational fishing in the area of the NP Mljet
are very expensive, and the rest of the island of Mljet price fishing license is standard. Probably no one will ask for your permission
if you hunt from the shore.
Mljet is also the ideal location for fishing.
Diving on Mljet, as we have already written, delighted even Jacqueas Cousteau.
Great clarity of the sea, and many interesting locations such as caves, shipwrecks
reef of stony coral, Odysseus cave, Cape Lenten War and the island 'Shield with a southwest side,
the steep walls of the site Zapetrali, Lenga Cape and Islands Vanji Skoj and Internal Skoj,
will allow you an unforgettable experience. Because of exploration and research areas, Mljet is the area under special
protection of the Ministry of Culture, which makes diving possible only in organized
diving centers with permits for underwater activities.
If you are a fan of sea kayak , Mljet offers excellent opportunities for kayaking on the Big and Small Lake, to Odysseus's cave,
nearby islands or along the coast around the island. There are also organized seven-day kayak-tours from Dubrovnik to tour
Elafiti and Mljet.
If you get tired during the day, dinner fish in various ways with local wine and Mljet will remain an unforgettable memory.
Or simply lounge on beaches.
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