Kornati

Kornati

Danielis

The Kornati archipelago consists of 149 islands, islets and reefs scattered over an area of 320 m2 between Dugi otok in the northwest, the island of Zirje in the southeast and the islands of Pasman, Vrgada and Murter in the north and northeast. The limestone islands have no springs or streams. The vegetation is sparse due to the uneven distribution of precipitation and temperature in the vegetation period. The Kornati aquatori-um is one of the richest fishing areas on the Adriatic.

KORNATI NATIONAL PARK - The park includes 89 islands, islets and reefs, which comprise two thirds of the Kornati archipelago. The area was declared a national park in 1980 due to its geomorphologic characteristics, diversity of marine life and other natural wonders. The park has scientific, cultural, educational and recreational functions. Tourism and recreation are restricted to visits, sightseeing and accommodation under a uniform set of park rules. Although there has not been a permanent settlement in the park since the 18th century, settlements do exist. The locals inhabit them only during the farming season. Many rent out their houses for longer periods of time. There are several seasonal inns on the Kornati, located wherever there are houses. Visitors who arrive by boat must enter the park through the Vrata od Opata Strait to the reception point on the island of Ravni Zakan, or through the Vela Proversa Strait to the reception point in Spraljin stan.

The winds are not particularly inconvenient or dangerous within the park, but particular attention is required for precise navigation. Sailors must constantly pay attention to rocky reefs and shoals which are sometimes difficult to detect. During the summer, the excessive number of visitors who crowd the well-protected bays can also he a problem, while in the isolated protected locations, the sea is often too deep for the anchor to reach the bottom. Night-time navigation is definitely not recommended.

GENERAL RULES OF BEHAVIOUR IN THE NATIONAL PARK: Visitors must enter the park at reception points and purchase a ticket, Navigation is allowed throughout the park except in the zone under special protection, Temporary and over-night anchorage is available only in the bays of Stiniva, Statival, Lupeska, Tomasovac, Suha Punta, Sipnata, Smokvica, Ravni Zakan, Lavsa, Piskera-Panitula, and in the Levrnaka or Anica Bay on the island of Levrnaka, Walking is permitted only on marked trails, Swimming is permitted except in the zone under special protection, Diving requires a special permit -recreational fishing requires a permit, Litter must be discarded at designated points, Penalties for violations of the rules are severe.

BELA LUCICA - A bay for small boats, which is almost always occupied. There is an anchorage in the middle of the bay at a depth of around 5 m. The bay is exposed to southerly and southwesterly winds. The coast is lined with a few houses which retained their original appearance.

GOSPA OD TARCA (Our Lady of Tarac) - A chapel that was mentioned in the 12,h century. It is the site of an interesting annual religious gathering of the inhabitants of the Kornati. Nearby lie the ruins of the Tureta Fortress.

KOROMACNA - A small bay protected from the bora and the jugo. A few houses with piers are protected from the maestral by a breakwater armoured with stones.

KRAVLJACICA - A small harbour with around ten houses and two small piers with depths between 2 and 3 m. The piers are usually occupied. Anchorage is available at a depth of around 8 m. The harbour is exposed to southerly and southwesterly winds.

LOPATICA - Boats can moor bows-on at mooring lines in front of the inn, where the sea is 1.6 m deep. The bay is exposed to southwesterly winds. There is an anchorage at a depth of around 8 m.

LUPESCINA - A small harbour exposed to northwesterly winds and frequently occupied. MODRI BOK - An uninhabited bay with an anchorage at depths between 6 and 8 m, exposed to southerly and southwesterly winds.

OPAT - There are a few mooring buoys and lines in front of the inn. The bay is exposed to southerly winds. Anchorage is available at a depth of B m, but the bottom does not provide the best hold.

ROPOTNICA - There are a few small stone piers with shallow depths in the bay. Boats can use mooring lines in front of the inn. Because the depth is only around 1 m, they have to be moored bows-on. The bay is exposed to southerly winds.

STATIVAL - The two parallel bays, Donji Statival and Gornji Statival, are exposed to southwesterly winds and provide anchorage at a depth of around 8 m.

STINIVA - The only bay with a few houses in the middle of the northeastern coast of the island. There is a stone breakwater at the end of the bay with a few mooring lines in front of it, which should be used when the bora blows.

STRIZNJA - A bay with around ten houses, protected by an islet and exposed to southwesterly winds. Berths are available at small piers in front of the inn on both coasts. The depth of the sea at the largest pier is 2 m.

SIPNATA - A well-protected bay with a depth of 3.5 m and a few houses with piers. It is partly exposed to northwesterly winds. Berths are available at the pier in front of the inn with a depth of 1.8 m.

SPRALJIN STAN - A small seasonal fishing village and reception point for the national park in the Tomasovac Bay.

VRULJE - One of the largest seasonal settlements on the island of Kornat with a series of small stone piers. Boats can use mooring lines front of the most famous inn on the archipelago. Anchorage is ailable at a depth of around 6 m. When berthing at the piers, ke into consideration the tide, whose range can be up to 0.5 . The harbour is exposed to westerly winds.

LAVSA - A very popular bay during the season with a safe anchorage at e end, where the sea is between 2 and 4 m deep. The eastern le has a few small piers with a depth of up to 1.5 m. The bot-m does not provide a good hold in certain places, and there is danger of catching old anchor chains. The inn is open during e summer. The bay is exposed to northeasterly winds.

LEVRNAKA - An island with two bays of nautical significance. The Levrnaka iy (also called Anica) is very deep, which makes anchoring dif-ult. Boats can moor at a depth of 2 m or at the knee-shaped jr at a depth of 5 m. The Levrnaka Bay is exposed only to rthwesterly winds. The uninhabited Lojena Bay on the other le of the island has a small pebbly beach on the eastern part, ere is an anchorage at a depth of around 7 m.

PISKERA - The only suitable place for anchorage is the strait between the and of Piskera and the islet of Panitula. The latter has a marina behind which lies the most suitable anchorage. Pay attention to the decreasing depth. Berthing at the first floating piers in the marina is not advisable, because the jugo causes a strong tide. The northwestern strait is very shallow (0.7 m), so naviga-n is possible only when the sea is calm. Piskera Marina (099) 470-009 - There are 150 berths and 35 spaces for dry storage. The depth Ihe sea is 4 m.

PURARA - This island in the national park is under special protection as an lithological and floral reserve. Landing or even approaching this area is strictly prohibited.

RAVNI ZAKAN - Boats can berth at the largest L-shaped pier on the Kornati islands with a depth of up to 4 m, or anchor in front of it. The bay is exposed to southerly winds and features the largest inn on the archipelago. On the western side of the island lies a small knee-shaped pier with a depth of up to 1.5 m, which is exposed to northerly and northwesterly winds. This is a reception point for boats entering the national park from the southeast.

VELA SMOKVICA - At the end of the Lojena Bay lies a small seasonal hamlet with a all breakwater (pier) with a depth of up to 1 m and mooring ;s for guests of the inn. Boats can anchor in the middle of the / at depths between 5 and 8 m, or at the beginning of the bay The western arm. The bay is exposed to southerly, and the stern arm to easterly winds.