Mljet National Park

Mljet, the island of stories and legends is one of the most forested Adriatic islands, and because of its special character has been declared a national park. The national park contains 2 salt water lakes – Veliko and Malo, with the islet in the big lake, has a Benedictine monastery from the 12th century on it. Aside from swimming in this heavenly, clean, turquoise water, the park is perfectly suited for active holidays. Around the lake through the pine forest runs a path on which it is possible to walk or ride bicycle. Around the park are a few villages such as Babine Kuće right on the lake, Goveđari on the hill above the lake, and the touristy Pomena and Polače on the sea's coast. If you go from the national park towards the opposite end of the island, you will find a signpost for some small villages which are mainly situated in quiet coves to which lead very very narrow and winding paths.

This, the furthest south and east of the larger Croatian islands, is extemely beautiful and could justifiably be called the greenest corner of the European Mediterranean. If you have a bit of mountaineering spirit, don't miss the chance of an early morning ascent to the summit (top) of Montekuc, from where there is a heavenly view of the Small and Great lakes, the area of Mljet's national park. Small Lake is connected by a 30 metre long channel to the Great Lake, which is joined to the open sea via the shallow Soline channel. Through both channels flows a strong sea current, which because of the tides, every six hours changes direction which once was used to start the mills. The Small Lake is interesting for the natural phenomenom of Eutrophication, as a result of which there is no oxygen at lower levels. In the shade of Aleppo pine and holm oak trees live many species of animal, such as fallow deer and wild boar, while on the south coast there was once a population of mediterranean monk seals, today unfortunately extinct. On Mljet there are no posionous snakes because the islanders introduced mongooses, which killed them all. Even the ancient Romans recognised the benefits of this delightful climate, which is shown by the palace in the Polača harbour, the ruins of the early Christian church, and a large number of summer villas, and the legends say that the apostle Paul, stayed here are he was shipwrecked on the island. On the islet of Saint Mary in the Great Lake is located one of the most beautiful Benedictine monasteries from the 12th century. If you don't feel like rowing across to the islet, take a tourist boat.