In
1929, George Bernard Shaw, the famous Irish writer wrote:
" Those who wish to see heaven on earth should come to Dubrovnik."
His immortal words do not only praise the rich
and glorious history of Dubrovnik, but also the natural features
of the whole region, known today as the Dubrovnik-Neretva county.
Few places on earth exhibit such harmony between nature and men,
a harmony still preserved till today. From the clear Adriatic waters,
the interiours karst system, to the rich Neretva river in the Northeast,
a magnificent combination emerges, taking your breath away every
time you visit this region.
The defining characteristics of the landscape are
the evergreen flora, pine and oak forests, macchia, karst fields,
all creating the beautiful tropical and subtropical vegetation in
Dubrovnik Region. Many natural phenomena can be found; Europe’s
longest underground river Ombla, the bay of Mali Ston famous for
oyster beds, the national park on the Island of Mljet, Arboretum
Trsteno, Lokrum Reservation, Konavle, the Elafiti Islands and many
more. The real joy is to explore this region by yourself, finding
your own secret spots of harmony and peace.
The Neretva River dominates the scenery in the
hinterland of South Dalmatia. This is mostly a marshland region,
with occasional limestone areas. Shallow riverboats characteristic
of the region glide up and down the river, and there are endless
fields all around where people grow a variety of produce. The Neretva
is the habitat of one of the largest species of trout-the marble
trout, which can weigh more than thirty kilograms. Near the mouth
of the Neretva, there is an unusual bay called Malostonski zaljev,
where the sea abounds in different kinds of shellfish.
On the road to Dubrovnik to the south, lies the
Trsteno arboretum, one of the oldest designed parks in Croatia dating
from the 16th century. The park has many exotic plant species grow
in. Rijeka dubrovačka is the place of a harmonious coexistence between
the villas of Dubrovnik aristocracy and the natural environment.
Other examples are found on the Elafiti Islands (Koločep, Lopud,
Šipan, Jakljan, and Olipa), Island Lokrum and other islands off
the coast of Dubrovnik. As the many villas show, these wooded miniature
islands have been a pleasant retreat for centuries. Equally wooded
are the islands of Lastovo and Mljet. One third of Mljet and a part
of its sea are within the boundaries of the National Park Mljet.
The special and magical beauty of Mljet led many to recognize Mljet
as Homer's lost island Ogygia, the place where Ulysses and the nymph
Calypso met. Amid all this natural beauty, there are two historic
monuments: the ruins of a late-antiquity palace in Polače, and the
former Benedictine monastery on an islet in in the lake of Veliko
jezero in the middle of Mljet National Park
The results of the sea water analysis, made in the criteria prescribed
by the European Union, show that the Adriatic Sea is of the highest
quality, the only exception being several major seaports. Along
Dubrovnik Region visitors will enjoy in the crystal clear sea and
clean environment. The only exemption where swimming is not recommended
are the port of Gruz and the Old Town harbor. Due to many ships
and sewage water the sea quality in those areas must be improved
before swimming can be recommended. The control measurements of
the sea water quality around Dubrovnik is done yearly, before the
tourist season. Unfortunately, there are no beaches around Dubrovnik
that have yet received the Blue Flag award, an European award that
recognizes beaches with high standards regarding both sea water
quality and supporting facilities. The only received Blue Flags
in Dubrovnik Region are held by the ACI marina Miho Pracat in Komolac,
6 km from Dubrovnik and the ACI marina on Korčula.
Drinking water in Dubrovnik is of very good quality, constantly
controlled, and comes mostly from the Ombla river, 5 km from Dubrovnik.
Don’t miss the opportunity to refresh yourself at the Big and Small
Onofrio fountains in the Old Town of Dubrovnik, the big Onoffrio
fountain is located at the entrance, right after Pile gate.
The Blue Flag is an European project that rewards
achievements within the preservation of the sea and coastline that
started 15 years ago, and includes beaches and marinas. From the
year 2000 it has extended throughout the world.
From the year 1997 Croatia is a member of this
project, when the non governmental organization "Our Lovely"
was nominated by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe
to be a national coordinator and carrier of this project in the
Republic of Croatia. The Blue Flag symbolizes unpolluted, safe and
healthy environment, but it also includes an elaborated system of
managing coastal resources, and emphasizes sustainable development
within the hospitality industry.
Beaches and marinas that carry the Blue Flag are
recognized as properties offering a high quality services, carrying
for their environment, and have properly equipped supporting facilities.
The Blue Flag is not only a symbol of quality and ecological perseverance,
but the carriers of it can count themselves as top tourism destinations.
This prestigious symbol is awarded only to those
beaches and marinas which meet all the requirements which are set
according to individual criteria, but have in common the fact that
they always take care of the quality of the sea and the coastline.
The Blue Flag is a symbol that communicates high standards that
the marinas and beaches have meet. The Blue Flag is awarded for
the period of one year, and it is proudly raised at the beginning
of June. For each year it is necessary to maintain the standards
and fill out a questionnaire for the license to be extended.
Marinas and beaches which had the blue flag in the year 2001:
Beach of Hotel Dubrovnik President
Beach of the Parentium hotel, Poreč
Beach of the Galijot hotel, Poreč
Beach of the Laguna Materada hotel, Poreč
Beach of the PC Lotosi hotel
Beach of the Delfin hotel, Poreč
Beach of the Zelena laguna hotel, Poreč
Beach of the Ulika hotel, Poreč
Beach of the Koversada nudist centre, Vrsar
Beach of the autocamp Varkanela, Vrsar
Beach Vela plaza, Baška
Beach Gradsko kupalište, Crikvenica
Beach of the Varazdin hotel, Selce
Beach Poli mora, Selce
Beach Glavica, Dugi Rat
Beach Punta rata, Brela
Beach Medvjedice, Brela
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