Kornati National Park
| Kornati National Park | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|||
| Location: | Šibenik-Knin , Croatia | ||
| Next city: | Murter , Biograd | ||
| Surface: | 220 km 2 | ||
| Founding: | 1980 | ||
| Visitors: | about 50,000 (2005) | ||
| Address: |
www.np-kornati.hr Butina 2 HR-22243 Murter Tel. +385 22 435 740 |
||
The Kornati National Park (Croat. Nacionalni park Kornati ), also known as the Kornati National Park , includes part of the Kornati archipelago ( Croat . Kornatski otoci or simply Kornati ), an archipelago in the Croatian Adriatic . The Kornati are the densest archipelago in the Mediterranean and were placed under strict nature protection as a national park in 1980 . The total area of this national park is 220 square kilometers. The area is karst . The (submarine) marine area surrounding the islands is also part of the national park.
In total the national park consists of 89 islands, islets and rocks. The largest is called Kornat . Most of the vegetation on the islands is sparse. The islands consist of limestone , are either sparsely overgrown ( macchia ) or bare. There are no streams or springs. The national park administration is located in the village of Murter on the island of the same name not far from the archipelago . The inhabitants of the island of Murter have always been considered to be closely connected to this group of islands, which is why they are now responsible for managing the archipelago.
For sailors is Kornati Cup in the spring of interesting.
Origin of name and geological composition
The name of the Kornati Islands is due to the special geological conditions in this marine region. The subsurface condition does not differ particularly from that of the nearby mainland, i.e. This means that the Kornati subsoil consists of very porous limestone. In contrast to all other Adriatic islands, the Kornati have steep walls (cliffs) that slope towards the open sea. These cliffs are referred to by the local population as so-called "crowns" (Croatian krune , Italian corone ), which is particularly noticeable when viewed from the side. In some places the cliff reaches up to 90 m below sea level (for example near the islands of Piškera and Rasip ). The highest cliffs that drop steeply into the sea are on the island of Klobučar (82 m above sea level).
The islands of the Kornati National Park through history
Neolithic
People lived on the Kornati islands as early as the Neolithic . This is indicated by finds of stone axes in the Zeljkovac field , below the Pedinka mountain on the Kornat island .
Illyrians and Goths
The first confirmed colonizations of the islands date from the time of the Illyrians and Goths . This is indicated by small, square houses that stand individually or in groups (there are remains, for example, under the Pedinka mountain, above the Zeljkovac field). There are also small settlements (Šćikat, Stražišće, Tureta, Grba) and clusters that indicate a larger population at this time (these are located on almost all the hills on the islands of Kornat and Žut ).
The Roman Empire
The Roman Empire also left its mark on the Kornati islands. Today the remains of a villa rustica in Proversi and fish tanks on Svrsati can be admired. Further traces of the Roman Empire can mainly be found under water, such as the salt plant in Sipnatam or the port facilities in Vela Proversa.
The Byzantine Empire
According to many, the rule of the Byzantines or Goths left behind the most striking building that is located on the Kornati islands : the Tureta fortress on the island of Kornat. The building can be assigned to the late antiquity or the early Middle Ages and probably dates from the 6th century, i.e. before the Croatians settled the Adriatic . It is believed that the fortress was built for military purposes to secure navigation in the then dangerous Adriatic.
There is also an early Christian basilica (also from the Byzantine Empire) below the Tureta fortress. Today most of the apse and parts of the foundation walls can be visited. Due to the size of the church (30 × 13 m) it is assumed that a considerable number of residents must have lived on the island during this time.
Traces of a building can be found in the immediate vicinity of the church. Here the scientists do not agree on whether it is a Templar or a Benedictine monastery .
Migration of Nations
With the arrival of the Croatians in what is now Dalmatia, the Roman population was forced to flee from the mainland to the islands. However, this was only short-lived, as the sea was no longer a further obstacle for the Croatians. So it happened that the Kornati islands remained almost uninhabited until the 13th century.
middle Ages
From the 13th century the Kornati were settled again. Various buildings from the Middle Ages can be visited. One of these structures is the church " Gospa od Tarca " ( Eng . Madonna of Tarac , often referred to as Queen of the Seas ) in the bay of Tarac, which was probably built on the remains of an early Christian basilica. An exact dating of this church is not possible, so the dates vary from 12./13. Century, 14th century to 15th / 16th century The remains of a salt store and the remains of a salt production plant (probably second half of the 14th century) in the bay of Lavsa that have sunk in the sea also date from the Middle Ages .
Republic of Venice
The Kornati were especially known for fishing in the 16th century. For example, the Republic of Venice built a castle on the small island of Vela Panitula , which was mainly used to collect taxes on fishing in the Kornati Islands. In the immediate vicinity of the castle, on the island of Piškera (Jadra), a fishing village was built. The two islands were connected by a bridge. A church with Gothic elements was also built in the fishing village, which was consecrated in 1560. With the fall of the Republic of Venice at the end of the 18th century, the castle and the fishing village were abandoned. So today there are hardly any traces of the village left, the same applies to the fort. However, the church has been restored. It is still visited regularly today.
Tourism and Access
From the nearby coastal towns, excursions to the Kornati National Park are offered almost daily in the summer months. Most of the excursions are offered from the village of Murter, which is also home to the national park administration. Immediately north of the Kornati National Park is the Telaščica Nature Park .
Access to the protected national park area is chargeable. Boats that drive through the national park area are obliged to either pay an entry fee directly on site or to pay this to the national park administration in advance. In addition, strict rules of conduct apply within the national park area.
The islands of the national park
Map with all coordinates: OSM | WikiMap
