~~ Archives Roads Hvar ~~

CROATIA

Croatia is not a large country, but at the same time it is Mediterranean, central
European, mountainous and plain, coastal and continental. Its richness, variety
of animal and plant species is usually typical for large European countries.
In other words, in Croatia several landscapes, which could be found in some
other regions far away from there, lie on a limited surface. Even if Croatia is a
small country, it is one of the five European nations with the major biological
variety and some of its smaller territories contain numerous species of flora and
fauna, that rarely could be found in the rest of the world. Croatia has a broadly
articulated coast, rich with woods. There are numerous isles that seem like
tropical archipelagos. The ancient coast towns, rich of picturesque lanes and
ancient stone-build houses, are well preserved and they as charm as Italian towns. But in this coastal region there are also large green pastures bordered by
small walls in stone, similar to Ireland. The Croatian mountainous regions are rich
of woody zones. That remembers the vast Scandinavian forests, as much as the
impetuous rivers and the picturesque mountainous villages recall the Alps.
The arid Karst areas with their ravines and canyons remember the American Far
West. The boundless Croatian lowland of Pannonia shows vast marshy areas,
typical for Eastern European countries like Russia or Ukraine. Surrounded hilly
regions with their vineyards and medieval fortresses remind the typical German
and Austrian landscapes.

  
~~ Archives Road Hvar ~~
 

Croatia has many regions put under environmental protection. Their general
surface is 5.605 sqkm, wich makes 9% of the Croatian territory. If we calculate
the protected water areas, we may add a surface of 5.888 sqkm. The eight
national parks are the most important protected areas (Plitvice, Krka, Kornati,
Brioni, Mljet, Northern Velebit, Paklenica and Risnjak), and ten natural parks and
two natural reserves are highly protected.

In Croatia there are also 74 specific reserves (botanics, geomorphological,
hydrological, ichthyc, ornithological, zoological, as well as marine and wooded
reserves), 36 forest parks, 32 protected landscapes, 80 natural monuments
(geological, geomorphological, hdrological, paleontological, and several rare
trees) and 114 landscaping gardens (hatcheries, botanic gardens, parks, single
or groups of trees). There are also 574 protected animal species (61 mammals,
283 birds, 34 reptiles, 20 amphibians, 176 invertebrates) and 203 vegetables
categories (159 mushrooms and 44 more developed plants). Other protected
marine groups of birds and mammals - protected by the European Community -
cross the Croatian territory or stop here for brief periods.
 
And finally the real “clou” - the coast- why the majority of tourists come for.
The Croatian Coast is, together with the Greek one, the most articulated of the
Mediterranean area. It is 1.778 km long and if we also calculate the 1.185 islets
coasts, it reaches about 5.835 km. Hvar is, without doubt, one of the most
enchanting islands of Southern Dalmatia.Along its coast there are innumerable
bays of various forms, promontories, beaches, wild bluffs and some parts of
coast are covered by thick Mediterranean scrub. The coast of Hvar island is a
paradise that deserves to be explored and where everybody finds a quiet place,
no matter if boat-owner or not. Culture fans will also find their match, because
the Croatian coast has been populated for a thousands years, and extraordinary
traces and exceptional historical monuments were left by different civilizations.