Croatiafalls under the category an ecologically unspoilt
area, regardless of whether we consider its air, its
waters and sea. Precisely due to this fact, Croatia has been
attractive to many who have chosen to spend their holidays in
untouched nature, enjoying sailing and swimming in the
crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic.
The Adriatic distinguishes itself with a variety of
natural wealth and rarities and with a sea that is
exceptionally well maintained. The biological and scenic
individuality of the area reveals itself in the number of plant and
wildlife species as well as in the high number of endemic
species (for instance, the Dubrovnik knapweed, Centaurea
ragusina, or the black lizard, Lacerta fiumana pomoensis). State
bodies and other associations contribute to the conservation and
protection of the natural wealth of the Adriatic. A project for the
protection of dolphins was carried out on the island of
Lošinj.
Both financial assistance and adoption helped in the preservation
of these wonderful animals. On the neighbouring island of Cres, in
Beli, a shelter was established for the 'Bijeloglave supove', very
rare birds of prey whose population is now struggling to maintain
itself. One movement of nature activists, 'Lijepa Naša' (among
others), are working on the projects 'Blue Flag', 'Green Flag' and
'Eco-school'. The blue flag represents well-preserved, safe and
pleasant surroundings designed for holidays, fun and recreation,
with well-ordered structures for the management of the coastal area
and the continual development of tourism. Displaying the blue flag
on a beach or marina implies an excellent promotion for tourism
that bases itself on a first-rate quality service, the cleaning of
the sea and coast as well as the equipping and clearing up of
beaches. This year alone there will be 98 blue flags on Croatian
beaches and marinas.
Delighting in the scents and sounds of the untouched
nature of the Adriatic can be done on every island and
islet, especially the preserved parts of nature which have
scientific, cultural, historical, ecological and touristic
significance for Croatia. More than 7.5 % of the surface of Croatia
is under the protection of natural parks or other protection
measures. There are plans to double the size this existing area.
But the fact alone that such large unenclosed area of pure nature
exists in the middle of Europe is delightful and is a sign of
hope.
In the Croatian coast are located as many as four
national parks.
Brijuni consists of 14 islands and islets all
protected, as well as the surrounding sea, was proclaimed a
monument-area and a national park in 1983. From autochthon plant
and wildlife species, it is the best preserved in the Mediterranean
holm-oak and macchia (evergreen undergrowth) as well as bird
species such as terns and seagulls. This island group is also
important stopping place in the process of bird migration in the
winter. The island has zoological gardens placed in nature, with a
safari park full of exotic animals and a valuable cultural heritage
from the Roman and Byzantine ages.
Of all the rivers in the Croatian Karst, the most beautiful is
without doubt the river Krka. The national park
covers the most part of this river and its surrounding area, in the
pre-coastal region. Of the numerous waterfalls, the most beautiful
ones are the Skradin and Roški cascades. Between these cascades is
a section of the river that forms a lake, on which is the small
islet Visovac which hosts an attractive Franciscan monastery.
The Kornati are the most indented island group
of the entire Mediterranean and are located in northern Dalmatia.
Due to the exceptional beauty of the landscape, the fascinating
geomorphology, the great indentedness of the coastal outline and
especially the rich biodiversity of the marine ecosystem, the most
part of the island cluster was declared a national park in
1980.
Mljet is an island at the furthest southern
point of Croatia which, because of the exceptional luxuriant of
forests of Aleppo Pine wood, they call the 'green island'.
The Mljet National Park covers the western section of the island
which is, according to many, one of the most beautiful parts of the
Adriatic. In this park there are two specific wide gulfs which, due
to the very narrow connections with the open sea, have been called
'the Lakes'. The cleanliness of the Veliko and Malo Jezero
(literally, Big and Small Lake) has enabled the survival of the
Aurelia, the oldest species of medusa in the world. The national
park of Mljet is also home to Monk seal (Monachus monachus)
exceptionally rare varieties of the fauna both of Croatia and of
the entire Mediterranean.
A number of other ecologically preserved island can
offer their special quality. The tension of city life is
still unknown and the throngs have not arrived here yet either.
There are very few automobiles so the air does not have the
unpleasantness of car fumes.
Everything here is natural: food is prepared from
fresh local produce and wine from grapes of the islands'
vineyards.
The natural heritage of the islands is a great blessing to Croatia
and the basis of the quality of life and of the professions of its
people. It is also the foundation of Croatian tourism, in which
islands have a great precedence due to their preserved natural
significance. For this reason, protection, conservation, care and a
considerate relation towards the nature of the islands and the
coast of the Adriatic must remain an everyday priority of anyone
who visits the Adriatic, as well as of its own inhabitants.