Why
is there a growing interest in Croatia as a holiday destination year after
year?
Croatia
is a colourful country with a spectacular, sun-drenched
coast, bathed in the aromatic scents of the Mediterranean. The 5935km
coastline is dramatically indented with over a thousand virgin
islands. Did you know that Croatia is called a “country with a thousand
islands“, that it has one of the most indented coasts in the world with
countless sandy and pebbly beaches, attractive
bays and natural harbours – a true paradise for tourists.
It
is also a country of rocky crags, mountain plains and pastures, with Velebit
and Biokovo mountains in the coastal hinterland, known for their rich
flora and fauna.
It
is a country of lakes and magical
waterfalls which can be seen at the Plitvice Lakes, not far from the Croatian
coast. In this fairyland corner of nature, we become part of the magic and
cleansed by the water we reach an inner peace.
Continental,
Central European Croatia is a country
of gentle wooded hills and fine vineyards, streams and old forests in the
mountain area, and rivers running through fertile wheatlands.
Croatia
is one of Europe's richest countries in natural spring water,
suitable for human consumption.
It
is known for its natural resources, its national parks, nature parks and
reserves, some of which are on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
The
country also has a remarkably rich cultural and
historical heritage.
The
Croats settled the area around the 7th century, in the time of the great
migration of Slavic tribes, and founded their new homeland on the
traditions of the Western Roman Empire.
The
Croatian Kingdom was independent from the 10th to 12th century, after which it
joined the Hungarian Kingdom.
Most
of the Adriatic coastal areas were under Venetian rule.
Croatia
joined other central European nations under the Habsburg Monarchy in the 16th c
and remained part of the monarchy till the end of World War I in 1918.
Centuries of unity with the peoples of Central Europe left an impact on the
culture and national identity of the Croatian nation.
Life
in a federation with other southern Slavic nations after WWI proved
unsuccessful and eventually ended in the disintegration of Yugoslavia and
tragical violence over the Croatian people.
Croatia
proclaimed independence in 1991. The present-day Republic of Croatia is
building a democratic society on the foundations of its Mediterranean and
Central European cultural heritage and European values.
Croatia
has a favourable geographic location
and is easily accessible from European countries. It is on the route between
Europe and the East, thus influenced and enriched by many whose paths crossed
the country throughout its rich and turbulent history.
Many
monuments and localities are under UNESCO's protection.
If
you would like to visit Croatia and enjoy the beauty of the country, here is
some useful information:
Official
name:
Republic of Croatia
Official
language:
Croatian, Latin alphabet
Currency:
Croatian kuna (kn)
Population:
4.437.460
Capital:
Zagreb (pop.770,058)
Geographical
data
Croatia
is a Central European and Mediterranean country.
Land
area:
56,543 km2
Sea
area:
31,067 km2
Total
length of coastline:
5,835 km
Length
of offshore island coastline:
4,058 km
Length
of continental coastline:
1,777 km
Number
of islands, islets, rocks and reefs:
1,185 of which 66 are inhabited
Largest
island:
Krk 410 km2
Larger
islands:
Krk
409,90 km2
Cres
405,78 km2
Brač
394,57 km2
Hvar
299,66 km2
Pag
284,56 km2
Korčula
276,03 km2
Dugi
otok
114,44 km2
Mljet
100,41 km2
Rab
90,84 km2
Vis
90,26 km2
Highest
mountain:
Dinara 1831 m above sea level
Climate:
-a
moderate continental climate inland, with hot and dry summers and mild wet
winters,
-cool
summers and harsh winters with snow in the mountainous areas,
-Mediterranean
with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters in the coastal area.
Average
temperatures in August:
Average temperatures in January:
-inland
22? – 26?
C
-inland
-1? – 3?
C
-mountain
areas 15? – 20?
C
-mountain areas -5?
– 0? C
-coastal
area 26? – 30?
C
-coastal area 5?
– 10? C
The
Adriatic coast has an annual average of 2600 sunny hours, making it one of the
sunniest coasts of the Mediterranean, with
sea temperatures between 25 and 27 ? C.
Religion:
the majority are
Roman Catholics, followed by the Eastern Orthodox Church, Muslims and other
creeds.
Political
system: Parliamentary
democracy
National
parks
Name
Area in km2
Kornati
234
Plitvice
Lakes 295
Krka 110
Paklenica 102
Mljet
54
Risnjak
64
Brijuni
36
Nature
reserves:
Kopački
rit, Medvednica, Lonjsko polje, Velebit, Biokovo, Telašćica and Učka.
There
are six localities on UNESCO's World
Heritage List, renowned for their cultural and historical value or natural
beauty:
The
old town of Dubrovnik
Plitvice
Lakes NP
Euphrasian
Basilica in Poreč
Diocletian's
Palace in Split
The
Šibenik Cathedral
The
Romanesque old town of Trogir