Otok Krk
Island Krk, Croatia
Island Krk is the most northerly island on the Mediterranean and is located in the Kvarner bay. Croatia
Island Krk is the most northerly island on the Mediterranean and is located in the Kvarner bay. It is the largest island on the Adriatic with a surface area of 409.9 km2. Around twenty small islands, cliffs and reefs are located around the island. Krk is the island with the highest number of inhabited villages, 68 in total. The number of inhabitants on the island today is 19 383 ( 2011 census).
Climate, flora and fauna: The island of Krk is located in a moderate and mild Mediterranean climate zone. The average summer temperature is 23 oC, the average sea temperature in the period from June to September is 20 oC. The most frequent winds are the bura, jugo and maestral. So on the north and south-eastern part of the island the jugo blows more frequently, and in part of the central and northern part of the island the bura prevails.
The island of Krk is included amongst the sunniest parts of Europe with 2500 hours of sun per year. The variety of relief and favourable climatatic conditions have contributed to the development of almost 1400 different plant species. In the central and western part of the island forests and cultivated cultures of Mediterranean fruit and vegetables prevail, with vineyards and olive groves. The north and south part of the island is marked with rocky land and pasture. The specificity of Krk’s landscape is its terrace shaped walls (gromače) and shepherd's mrgar which have been conserved on the limestone plateaus above the Baška valley.
The relief is limestone, and has interesting shapes; caves and grottos (Biserujka close to Dobrinj), karst sink-holes and karrens.
The central part of the island is marked with fertile fields. The shore is indented, with a number of lagoons, bays and pebbled beaches.
Ornithology reserves: the island of Prvić and the north-eastern steeper part of the island of Krk's coast is where the Griffin vulture's habitat is located.
Links:
- Island Krk - beaches
