Mljet
Adriatic islands | |
Area | 98.01 km2 (37.84 sq mi) |
---|---|
Length | 37 km (23 mi) |
Width | 3.2 km (1.99 mi) |
Coastline | 135.185 km (84.0001 mi) |
Highest elevation | 514 m (1686 ft) |
Highest point | Veliki grad |
Administration | |
Croatia | |
County | Dubrovnik-Neretva |
Largest settlement | Babino Polje (pop. 270) |
Demographics | |
Demonym | Mljećanin (male) Mljećka (female) |
Population | 1,088 (2011) |
Pop. density | 11.34/km2 (29.37/sq mi) |
Ethnic groups | 97.3% Croats 2.7% others |
Mljet (pronounced
Population
According to the 2011 census, Mljet has population of 1,088.[3] Ethnic Croats make up 97.33% of the population.[4]
History
Mljet was discovered by ancient
Agesilaus of Anaxarba in Cilicia, the father of Oppian, was banished to Mljet by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus (AD 145–211)[7] (or to Malta by Lucius Verus: see Oppian).
Mljet is mentioned around 950 by the
Mljet has been regarded as the "Melita" on which
The
The Benedictines renounced their rule over Mljet in 1345, keeping only a third of the land. The island got a statute and a municipality in Babino Polje. It was formally annexed by the Republic of Ragusa in 1410. According to the Contract with the Benedictines, the municipality had to pay 300 perpers each year.[citation needed]
In the 16th century, the monastery was the center of the Mljet Congregation (Congregatio Melitensis or Melitana), gathering all the monasteries of Benedictine monks in the area of the Republic of Ragusa. The first president of the Congregation was Mavro Vetranović, the abbot of the Mljet monastery and the famous poet. Another great poet was abbot there—Ignjat Đurđević in the 18th century. As time went by, the Benedictine monastery on Mljet lost its importance, while the seat of the Mljet Congregation moved to Sveti Jakov near Ragusa.[citation needed]
In 1809, during the rule of Napoleon, the Mljet monastery was disbanded. When Austria took over the island, it placed the forestry office in the building. Between the world wars, the building was owned by the Ragusa (Dubrovnik) Bishopric. In 1960 it became a hotel, and in 1998 it was returned to the bishopric. The island has a long history of eco-damage. In order to ease their transport problems, the monks dug a channel to the south coast, from the lake Veliko Jezero, thus turning both fresh-water lakes into seawater-based ones.[citation needed]
The second incident involves mongooses. Small Indian mongooses were introduced onto the island in the early 20th century in order to reduce the venomous snake population (the island was apparently completely overrun). Whilst the mongooses completed this task, they also disposed of pretty much all the birdlife of the island. To this day, the island is notably short of hedgerow birds, such as sparrows. Mongooses are a hazard for domestic poultry, and are also known to cause damage in vineyards and orchards.[8]
Geography
Mljet lies south of the Pelješac peninsula, from which it is divided by the Mljet Channel. Its length is 37 km (23 mi); its average breadth 3.2 km (2.0 mi). It is of volcanic origin,[citation needed] with numerous chasms and gorges, of which the longest, the Babino Polje, connects the north and south of the island. Port Polače, the principal harbour in the north, is a port of call for tourist ferries. Mljet contains one hotel—The Odisej (from the Greek Odysseus) in the north-west corner of the island.[citation needed]
The northwestern part of the island includes an inland lake as well as a small island within it. It has been a national park since November 12, 1960. Over 84% of the island of 98.01 km2 (37.84 sq mi) is forest.[9] The island's geological structure consists of limestone and dolomite forming ridges, crests and slopes. A few depressions on the island of Mljet are below sea level and form non-permanent brackish lakes known as blatine ("mud-lakes") or slatine ("salt-lakes").[10]
The climate is Mediterranean; an average air temperature in January is 9 °C (48 °F) and in July about 24 °C (75 °F). Precipitation (mostly falling between October and April) averages between 35 and 45 inches annually, with the hills receiving the highest amounts.[citation needed]
Settlements
According to the 2011 census, the settlements of Mljet have the following population:[3]
- Babino Polje (270): largest settlement, police station, school
- Goveđari (151)
- Babine Kuće
- Pristanište
- Soline
- Pomena (52)
- Polače (113): ferry port, Roman ruins
- Blato (39)
- Ropa (37): auto camp
- Kozarica (28)
- Sobra (131): ferry port
- Prožura (40)
- Prožurska Luka (40)
- Maranovići (43)
- Okuklje (31)
- Korita (46)
- Saplunara (67): beach
Transportation
The island of Mljet has no airport.
The two-lane paved road runs throughout the island. Scheduled buses on Mljet travel just once or twice a day.
See also
References
- from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- ISBN 953-178-097-8
- ^ a b c "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2011 Census: Mljet". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
- ^ "Population by Ethnicity, by Towns/Municipalities, 2011 Census: County of Dubrovnik-Neretva". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
- ISBN 978-3-8053-3740-3. Archivedfrom the original on 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
In der Antike hieß sie Melite (Pseudo-Skylax 23), obwohl sie bei Apollonios Rhodios (4, 5629) auch als Meleda erwähnt wird.
- ^ a b Bryant, Jacob (1715–1804) A New System, Or, An Analysis of Ancient Mythology: Wherein an Attempt is Made to Divest Tradition of Fable and to Reduce the Truth to Its Original Purity, The Third Edition in Six Volumes, printed for J. Walker; W. J. and J. Richardson; by R. Faulder Press, 1807., Vol. V., pp 357-358. (in English)
- ^ "Text from ancientlibrary.com". Archived from the original on 2006-10-06. Retrieved 2006-10-08.
- ^ "Mungos - ljuti neprijatelj prirode". Zadarskilist.hr (in Croatian). 17 March 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^ "Priručnik o kartama staništa Dalmacije" (PDF) (in Croatian and English). June 2009. p. 97. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ^ "Nacionalni park". mljet.hr (in Croatian). Mljet Tourist Board. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Meleda". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 93. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the