Page 102 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

100  CRO A TIA AREA B Y AREA

3 Kornati National Park shepherds of Murter cut down
the trees and burned the scrub
Nacionalni park Kornati in order to grow grass for their
In 1980 part of the Zadar Archipelago was declared a national livestock, which were left here
park. The name Kornati derives from the name of the main to graze freely from spring to
autumn. Dry-stone walls were
island in the group, Kornat. The park was set up to protect the built between the plots of land
waters so that marine life might flourish. It measures 36 km to form pens for the animals.
(22 miles) in length and 6 km (4 miles) wide and is made up On some of the islands near
of 89 islands of white stone. Despite there not being any perm­ the coast are small cottages with
anent inhabitants, and vegetation appearing to be sparse, stables and an outdoor hearth.
flora and fauna are rich; there are some 19,000 olive trees in Many also have a small jetty.
The Kornati Islands have
the park area. The islands are surrounded by clear blue sea, become a popular destination
with jagged coastlines, hidden coves and underwater caves. for scuba divers and sailors. The
marine life is varied with around
350 plant species and 300
animals. Fishing is prohibited
throughout the entire Kornati
National Park.
Besides dozens of rocky
outcrops, the islands of Kornat,
Levrnaka, Piškera, Lavsa, Kasela
and Mana make up the park.
West of Levrnaka lies the island
of Mala Proversa, which, with
the southern part of Dugi
Otok (see p98), forms another
One of the few houses on the Kornati Islands protected area, the Telašćica
Nature Park. The best way to
Exploring Kornati vegetation, were used as a base visit is by sailing boat, and there
National Park for the Venetian fleet. At present are organized day trips from
The Kornati Islands were the the Kornati Islands belong to the Murter, Zadar, Biograd, Vodice,
peaks of a mountain chain inhabitants of Murter, to the east, Primošten and Rogoznica.
about 20,000 years ago. When who bought them around the
this area was part of the Roman end of the 19th century to use
empire, the main islands were as grazing for sheep and goats.
holiday resorts, popular with The bare and arid islands are
the prosperous inhabitants of characterized by steep cliffs,
Zadar. Beautiful Roman villas stony ground and sinkholes
with mosaic floors as well as typical of a karst (limestone)
fishponds and baths were built. landscape. Sheep farming has
During the long period under impoverished the flora of these
Venetian rule the islands, which islands. In fact, the vegetation
were then covered with rich disappeared when the
DUGI OTOK
Sali
The Kornati Islands
MALA PROVERSA
TELAŠĆICA KATINA SVRŠATA KORNAT
Lučica
Vrulje

LEVRNAKA

MANA
PIŠKERA
Key
Path 0 kilometres 10
Borders of the park 0 miles 10
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp228–30 and pp240–45

100-101_EW_Croatia.indd 100 20/10/16 12:31 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm