Croatia - Eastern Europe - page 124

1 Getting to Know Croatia
THE LAY OF THE LAND
Croatia is a crescent-shaped country that borders Slovenia in the northwest, Hungary
in the north, Serbia in the northeast, Bosnia-Hercegovina to the east along almost the
entire length of the Dalmatian coast, Montenegro in the extreme south, and the Adri-
atic Sea to the west. Croatia covers about 56,542 sq. km (35,112 sq. miles) and is
slightly smaller than West Virginia with a varied topography of mountainous regions,
flat plains, lowland basins, and hilly terrain. The country's 1,168 islands account for
4,085 sq. km (2,536 sq. miles) of its 5,835 sq. km. (3,524 sq. miles) of coastline, but
just 50 of the islands are inhabited.
THE REGIONS IN BRIEF
DALMATIA Croatia's southernmost region lies on the eastern Adriatic coast
between Pag Island in the northwest and the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. Dalma-
tia's climate is Mediterranean with wet, mild winters and long, hot, dry summers. The
width of inland Dalmatia ranges from 50km (31 miles) in the north to just a few kilo-
meters wide in the south. Dalmatia is divided into four counties whose capital cities—
Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik —are also popular tourist destinations. Dalmatia and its
islands account for most of the seacoast, Croatia's main tourist draw.
INLAND CROATIA From Zagreb east to the Danube River, Inland Croatia is
home to treasures that include protected nature preserves, picturesque villages, and
historic cities. Some like Mt. Medvednica north of Zagreb are close to urban areas
and public transportation, while others are remote wetlands. The region is dotted with
notable castles, cathedrals, and historic sites that are interspersed with villages, rolling
wooded hills, long flat plains, lush vineyards, and farmland. Inland Croatia shares a
border with Slovenia and Hungary in the north and with Bosnia-Hercegovina in the
south. The Danube accounts for much of the eastern border with Serbia.
ISTRIA Croatia's westernmost region is the country's most visited, perhaps because
it is the most accessible to visitors from continental Europe. Istria is a triangular
peninsula that juts into the northern Adriatic across the bay from Venice. The region
includes the islands of the Brijuni Archipelago, made famous by Josip Broz Tito, who
received countless celebrities and heads of state at the residence and wildlife park he
established there. In addition, clusters of smaller islands and islets lie just off Istria's
southeast coast. The region is adjacent to Rijeka in the east and is separated by just a
few miles of Slovenia from Italy (Trieste) at its northwest corner. Istria's west coast is
lined with pretty Venetian-influenced towns like Rovinj and Pore c , while its south-
ernmost city, Pula, is home to magnificent Roman ruins. Medieval castles, woodland
churches, and charming villages are surrounded by vineyards and olive groves in the
interior, where the forests also support thriving hunting and truffle industries.
KVARNER GULF The northern coastal region that borders the Kvarner Gulf and
neighboring islands comprise this region, Croatia's closest to central and western
Europe. Location and a mild climate have made Kvarner a popular tourist destination
for western Europeans since the heyday of the Austro-Hungarian empire. The Kvarner
Gulf region includes the islands of Krk, Cres, Lo s inj, Rab, Unjie, and Susak as well
as the Opatija Riviera, one of the country's busiest tourist centers.
THE ISLANDS Croatia's 1,168 islands account for much of its fabled seacoast.
Even though just 50 of them are inhabited, each of its Adriatic islands from Istria to