CROATIA - FACTS AND FIGURES

The Republic of Croatia extends from the Julian Alps in the north, the Pannonian Plains in the east, over the Dinaric mountain range of central Croatia to the Adriatic Sea in the south.
The area is 54,542 sq km, and there are also 31,067 sq km of territorial seawaters. The coast is 5,835 km long, out of which 4,058 km are the coasts of islands, islets and reefs.
There are 1,185 islands and islets, 67 of them being populated. The biggest islands are Krk, Cres, Brač, Korčula and Hvar.
Croatia has a population of 4,381,352. The capital is Zagreb (980,000).

Climate: northern Croatia has a typical continental climate. In central Croatia, the climate becomes more alpine and subalpine climate, whereas southern Croatia and the coastal areas have a typical Mediterranean climate.

Ethnic groups: most of the population are Croats; ethnic minorities include Serbs, Moslems, Slovenes, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks and Italians.

Language and script: Croatian language, Latin script

Religions: most of the population are Roman Catholic; other minor religions are Eastern Orthodox, Islam and other Christian denominations.

Adriatic Sea

The Adriatic Sea was named after an ancient harbour that bore the same name. The Adriatic Sea extends between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Italy; on the Croatian side from Cape Prevlaka in the south to Cape Savudria in the north, including all islands with the famous archipelago of Kornati. The Croatian coast provides the unique opportunity for boat trips, yachting and scuba diving. Due to proximity to the islands and the large number of them it is considered that the Adriatic Sea is the safest sea for nautical tourism. Croatia is really the country of islands. The total number of islands, islets and reefs is 1,185. They are situated along the mainland coastal line which is 1,777 km long. The Brijuni islands are a well-known national park, famous for its luxuriant vegetation, exotic wildlife and an enormous number of plant and animal species. Brijuni consist of 14 islands. The biggest islands are Krk, Cres, Brač, Hvar and Korčula. There is another island national park - Mljet, an island of primeval beauty and Mediterranean atmosphere. The Croatian Adriatic is divided into five tourist regions: southern Dalmatia - Dubrovnik region, central Dalmatia, northern Dalmatia, Kvarner and Istria.

DALMATIA - Split Region

Split Region is placed in the middle of Dalmatia. Characteristics of this Region, as in whole Dalmatia, is stone building, as Dalmatia abound in stone. In the past, everything was built out of stone - houses, streets, chuches and palaces. Famous of all palaces is Tzars Diocletian's Palace in Split, in wich Tzar himself withdrew in 303. y. A.D. As a town, Split started to grow exactly out of that Palace, in wich citizens, during the past, found shelter in front of historic enemies. Tzars Diocletian's Palace is registered in UNESCO as World's heritage monument. Today, Split is trade, transit and cultural center of whole Dalmatia. Also, famous monument, of Dalmatian stonework is portal of Trogirs Cathedral, made in XII Century by Master Radovan. Other tourist mainland destinations in Dalmatia are: Trogir, Omiš, Makarska, Tučepi. Makarska Riviera has the nicest pebbly beaches, Nature Park, mountain Biokovo, wich gives to Riviera almost alpic visures. The largest islands are island Brač, with well known Golden Horn (Zlatni Rat) beach in place called Bol, island Hvar is Croatia's most sunniest island, with long history in tourism tradition, and is proud to possess one of oldiest World's theaters. Other larger islands are Šolta and Vis.

DALMATIA - Šibenik Region

Šibenik Region is Dalmatian region wich have two Croatian National Pakrs, wich are: National Park Krka and National Park Kornati Islands. They're only 50 kilometers distanced, and are fantastic places to enjoy in their rich and different river and sea natural worlds. National Park Krka gain its name by river Krka, wich crosses wild and narrowed canyons with natural barierrs, making numerous waterfalls and lakes. An Island with monastery is situated on one such lake. National Park Kornati is islands archipelago with 147 islands with unique and extremely rare vegetation. Because of isolation and hard climate environment, islands have no habitants and are suitable for robinsons way of tourism.

Most known mainland turistic destinations are Šibenik, Vodice, Primošten, Murter, Rogoznica. Šibenik is an ancient Croatian town, known since 1066., mentioned in Deed of Gift from Croatia's King Peter Krešimir. Years of middle age left their mark in Šibenik - thick and irregulare narrow street network in old town and gothic cathedral st.Jakob's.

DALMATIA - Zadar Region

Zadar Region is Dalmatian region with about 300 islands and sea rocks, two sweetwater lakes close to coast and one Croatian National Park - Paklenica. One of the lakes is situated on mainland at distance 300 meters from sea shore - Vransko Lake, and the other is placed on Dugi Island, Lake Mir is only 100 meters from sea shore. National Park Paklenica are two great canyons, long at least 10 kilometers and deep up to 400 meters. Very oftenly, mountin climbing sport events are held on those two canyons.

The largest town is Zadar, a town wich is proud to possess one of World's oldiest churches - St. Donat's Church.

DALMATIA - Dubrovnik Region

Dubrovnik is the most famous Adriatic town (Croatian side of Adriatic) and unmissable destination of this part of the World. It is the best preserved and conservated middle ages town with completely preserved middleage stone town fortification. Town walls are today's attraction visited by numerous tourists. Town is also known by its chuches that belongs to different cultures and religion communities wich lived here in harmony and freedom during ages, as such are part of famous Dubrovnik Republic Hymn.

Nearby Dubrovnik is Arboretum Trsteno - the oldiest designed park in Croatia, since 16. st. On the other side of Dubrovnik, Župa Dubrovačka is situated, an example of harmony and cohabitation of Dubrovnik Aristocracy and nature. Second example of such harmony can be found on Elaphite islands (Koločep, Šipan, Jakljan and Olip).

Larger islands are Korčula, Mljet and Lastovo. On Korčula was born Marco Polo, World's seafarer. Korčula is island of harmonized town and people architecture, filled with meditteranean spirit and vegetation. Islan Mljet is another Croatia's National Park. It is commonly considered that Mljet island is Homer's lost island Ogygia, where mythical Ulysses met its Calypso Nymph.

KVARNER

Kvarner Region is situated in north part of Adriatic coast, and is special because of lots of sudden landscape and climate changes on small area. Sunny coast, known as Kvarner's Riviera is distanced only 20 kilometers from skiing centers Platak and another Croatian National Park - Risnjak - up in the mountains. Small town Opatija is the most famous jet-set destination on the coast, with tradition since 1844., first being tourist destination of Austrian and European Aristocracy. Together with the Mid Europe charmed hotels, there are many modern ones. The largest town in Region is town Rijeka, harbour, transit and cultural center of Region. Newest touristic destinations are Crikvenica Riviera, Novi Vinodolski Riviera, and islands Krk, Cres, Rab and Lošinj. Lošinj is well known by its long naturistic tourism tradition, it's known that English King Edward VIII and his wife were the first guests that asked local authorities in year 1936. for premission to swim naked in Kandarola Bay.

ISTRIA

Histria is Region on north part of Adriatic sea, heart-shaped peninsula, also called Croatian Toscana. Along 430 kilometers long coast, with mediteraean climates are placed towns Umag, Novigrad, Poreč, Rovinj, Pula. Pula is the largest town and administrative center, and is proud to possess Antic Arena, in wich, today, are held many cultural manifestations. Town-peninsula Rovinj grows out of sea with barok Cathedral of st. Eufemia, dated from 18.th century, and is dominating surrounding landscape. Histria's inlands is extremely attractive, green landscape with lots of hillocks on wich are situated towns-fortifications, and are special attraction for tourists seeking for peacefull holidays, excellent food in agrotourism and diffeternt and pitoresque cultural events. Speciallity of Gastronomy in Histria are famous bot truffle mushrooms, for wich gastronoms say, grows best in Histria.