Island Mljet is 8th largest island in Croatia. It is located in Dubrovnik-Neretva's district and it is part of Dubrovnik's archipelago. Island Mljet is located south of peninsula Peljesac and island Korcula, east of island Lastovo and north-west of town Dubrovnik on mainland. Island Mljet is 37 km long and 3 km wide. It has area of 100,4 km2 and 131,3 km long coast.
Shortest connection of island Mljet with mainland is peninsula Peljesac through Mljet's Canal 8 km wide. Highest peak of island Mljet is Veliki Grad (514 m). Other highest peaks: Veliki Planjak (389 m) and Sutilija (390 m). You can get to island Mljet by plane, boat, bus or car. If you are coming by plane, you will get to Airport Dubrovnik and take a ferry to island Mljet.
If you are coming by car you can take a highway A1 Zagreb-Split-Dubrovnik and exit in Vrgorac. You can take local roads to the nearest ferry port on peninsula Peljesac to take a ferry for island Mljet. Other possibility of arriving to island Mljet are water transfers. You can use water taxi, rent a boat
and enjoy in cruising
around the island and many water activities. Water transfers
with speed boat are ideal way to enjoy in beautiful and clear sea and go on many excursions to nearby islands, towns, beaches.
ISLAND MLJET INHABITANTS AND SETTLEMENTS
Island Mljet has around 1100 inhabitants. Inhabitants are mostly directed to olive and vine growing and tourism. First written record of inhabitants on island Mljet was made in time of Dubrovnik Republic. Island Mljet had 622 inhabitants then. Island Mljet has elementary school in Babino Polje and local school in Govedari which lasts 3 years.
The rest of the school education children have to go to town Dubrovnik. Island Mljet has 20 settlements: Babino Polje, Polace, Pristaniste, Pomena, Sobra, Govedari, Kozarica, Ropa, Blato, Prozura, Prozurska Luka, Korita, Okuklje, Saplunara, Maranovici, Babine Kuce, Njivice, Soline, Tatinica and Velika Loza. Administrative center of island Mljet is Babino Polje.
Polace is main tourist and travel port. Pomena is the only settlement on island Mljet with a hotel.
ISLAND MLJET HISTORY
Island Mljet was first time mentioned as Melita which is a Greek word (melissa, melitta) for a bee. First inhabitants on island Mljet were Illyrians 4000 years ago. They lived in small habitations of drywalls next to the sources of fresh water. Greek mariners used to take a shelter in Mljet's bays while traveling to islands Korcula, Vis and Hvar. They did not inhabitate island Mljet. Island Mljet came under the rule of Romans in 167.year BC.
First written mention of island Mljet is found in writings of Roman writer Apijan who wrote about battles between emperor August and local inhabitants on island Mljet. In 3rd century Romans built a palace on island Mljet which was used for defence. Neretvans come to island Mljet accross peninsula Peljesac and form settlement Vrhmljece which was located above today's settlement Maranovici. During the 12th century island Mljet was under the rule of Benedictines who developed improved agriculture on island Mljet and literacy. Mljet's Statute was brought in 1345.
It freed local inhabitants of all service under Abbey. Island Mljet became part of Dubrovnik's Republic on 15th November 1410. It was under Dubrovnik's rule till 1808. Later, island Mljet changed many rulers: French, Habsburgh Monarchy (1815.-1918.), Italian, Kingdom SHS, Kingdon Yugoslavia. After World War II island Mljet is part od Croatia in Yugoslavia and since 1991. it is part of independent Republic of Croatia.
ISLAND MLJET CLIMATE
Climate of island Mljet is Mediterranean. It has hot summers and mild winters. Temperature has been measured since 1892. Island Mljet has over 100 days per year with temperature over 25°C. Island Mljet is known by its lakes, natural harbors, rocky coast, caves, sand bays, sources of fresh water.
In 1960. northwest part of island Mljet was declared as National park. Rocks on island Mljet are made of dolomite and limestone. Lakes Malo and Veliko (Small and Large lake) are submerged karst valleys filled with sea. Flora on island Mljet is consisted of holm oak and Aleppo pine woods, flax, clover, grass, algae...
Animal life on island Mljet is consisted of: lizards, house gecko, mouse, hedgehog, bats, dormouse, marten, deers, wild boar, birds, wild ducks, Mediterranean monk seal... Snakes are endangered by mungooses in 1909.
ISLAND MLJET ATTRACTIONS
Attractions on island Mljet:
- Remains of Church of St. Paul;
- Towers in Korita and Prozura;
- Odisej's Cave;
- Large and Small Lake;
- Ducal Palace in Babino Polje;
- Lakes Blatine in Sobra, Blato, Prozura and Kozarica;
- Remains of Illiryan fort;
- Islet St. Mary;
- Geomorphological locality Zakamenica;
- Church of St. Vlaho;
- National Park Mljet;
- Sand beaches in Saplunara...
ISLAND MLJET ACTIVITIES AND NIGHT LIFE
Restaurants on island Mljet: tavern Triton in Babino Polje, restaurant Melita in Govedari, tavern Stermasi in Saplunara, restaurant Kod Marijane in Prozura, tavern Galija in Pomena, tavern Odisej in Pomena, restaurant Ankora in Polace, tavern Calypso in Polace... You can enjoy in traditional island's meals, fresh fish and seafood, eels, meals of meat, vegetables and homemade wines. Night life on island Mljet is active in many settlements on the coast.
You can also visit island Korcula and town Dubrovnik for more intense night life. From 12.07. till 15.08. a cultural manifestation is kept on island St. Mary. On island Mljet you can enjoy in many sports activities: hiking, biking, diving, cruising
by speed boat, sailing, fishing, speleology and many other water activities. Island Mljet has beautiful beaches and clear sea.
Most famous beaches: beach Large Lake (NP Mljet), beach Saplunara, beach in a bay Sutmiholjska, beach in a bay Blaci... From island Mljet you can go on one-day trips
to town Dubrovnik, National Park Mljet, island Korcula, island Lastovo, town Ston... The best way to experience these settlements and coastal towns is from the sea, by water taxi, group water transfers
or boat rentals.
