Mljet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mljet (Latin Melita, Italian Meleda) is the most southerly and easterly of the larger Adriatic islands of the Dalmatia region of Croatia. Population 1,111 with 98% Croats (2001).
Mljet lies south of the Pelješac peninsula, from which it is divided by the Mljet Channel. Its length is 23 miles; its average breadth 2 miles. It is of volcanic origin, with numerous chasms and gorges, of which the longest, the Babino Polje, connects the north and south of the island. Port Polače (It. Palazzo), 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.
The northwestern part of the island includes an inland sea as well as a small island within it. It has been a national park since November 12, 1960.
Ancient Greeks called the island "Melita" or "honey" which over the centuries evolved to become the Slavic name, Mljet (pronounced "mill-YET").
Contents |
[edit] History
Mljet is believed to have been discovered by Greeks, because of ancient records in which this island is mentioned. Agesilaus of Anaxarba, who had been governor of Cilicia, was banished to Mljet by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus (AD 145-211). [1]
Mljet is mentioned around 950 by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos in his Of Rulling an Empire the island as one of the islands held by the Serbian tribe: the Neretvians.
Mljet has been regarded as the "Melita" on which Saint Paul was shipwrecked, this view being first expounded, in the 10th century, by Eastern Roman Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus. As at Malta, a St. Paul's Bay is still shown.
The Benedictines from Pulsano in Apulia became the feudal lords of the island in 1151, having come from Monte Gargano in Italy. They came ashore in the Sutmiholjska cove and Serbian Prince Desa of the House of Vojislavljević built and donated to them the Church and Monastery of Saint Mary on the islet in the Big Lake (1187-1198). Pope Innocent III issued a document consecrating the church in 1198.
The island became a part of the unified Serbian Lands under Stefan Nemanja in 1166-1168. In 1222, the Serb King Stefan II the First-crowned of Nemanja gifted his lands and monasteries and church on Krkar to the Benedictine Order of Mljet. After serving as the last Serbian maritime bastion, Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V gifted the island to Balša I in 1357. The Benedictines renounced their rule over the island 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 Dubrovnik Republic in 1410. According to the Contract with the Benedictines, the municipality had to pay 300 perpers each year.
In the 16th century, the monastery was the center of the Mljet Congregation (Congregatio Melitensem or Melitanam), gathering all the monasteries of Benedictine monks in the area of the Republic of Dubrovnik. 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 Ðurdević 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 Dubrovnik.
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 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, thus turning both fresh-water lakes into sea-water based ones.
The second incident involves mongooses. These were introduced onto the island in the Middle Ages in order to reduce the 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, especially eggs. To this day, the island is notably short of hedgerow birds such as sparrows.
[edit] Saint Paul's shipwreck
According to the Bible, St. Paul the Apostle is said to have shipwrecked on the island of Mljet in 61 AD on his way to Rome. The story in chapter 27 and 28 of the Acts of the Apostles says that St. Paul spent 3 months of the island of Mljet preaching the Gospel. The beach of Saplunara is believed to be that area the St. Paul landed and also named after the latin word sabulum meaning sand. The official stamp of the Mljet County from 1850 until 1921 had the figure of St. Paul on it.
[edit] Odysseus's cave
Odysseus's cave is situated under the village of Babino Polje. The large cave is used as a harbor by local fisherman but is also the center of another famous shipwreck story. According to legend, Odysseus found his shelter in the cave after surviving a shipwreck on Mljet. According to Homer, Odysseus survived a shipwreck on his way back home from the Trojan war. He swam into the cave for shelter and there the nymph Calypso, daughter of Poseidon, waited for him. Amazed by the beauty of the nature and in love with the nymph Calipso, Odysseus stayed on the island for 7 years.
[edit] Geography
Over 72% of the island of 388 square miles is forest. 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 are known as blatine ("mud-lakes") or slatine ("salt-lakes"). During the rain seasons all blatine are filled with water and turn to brackish during dry seasons.
The climate is Mediterranean; an average air temperature in January is 48°F (9°C) and in July about 75°F (24°C).
[edit] Settlements
According to the 2001 census, the settlements of Mljet have the following population.
- Babino Polje (336) - largest settlement, police station, school
- Goveđari (165)
-
- Babine Kuće
- Pristaniste
- Soline
- Pomena (37) - hotel odisej
- Polače (115) - ferry port, roman ruins
- Blato (46)
- Ropa (32) - auto camp
- Kozarica (28)
- Sobra (102) - ferry port
- Prožura (53)
-
- Prožurska Luka (14)
- Maranovići (54)
- Okuklje (20)
- Korita (74)
- Saplunara (35) - beach
[edit] Transportation
The Island of Mljet has no airport. Dubrovnik airport on the mainland provides the main international connection for the island. Mljet has ferry lines with Pelješac peninsula and Dubrovnik. Transportation to the island is provided by Jadrolinija ferry service. Sobra, the main port on the island, is connected to Dubrovnik-Gruž and Ston via a car ferry. There is also a ferry between Polače and Trstenik (Pelješac peninsula). There are two type of ferries available: a car ferry and a faster catamaran ferry (2.5 hours and 90 minutes to Dubrovnik, respectively).
The two-lane paved road runs throughout the island. Scheduled buses on Mljet travels just once or twice a day.
[edit] External links
- Mljet National Park
- Mljet Tourist Information (Croatian)
- Island of Mljet - Home Page
- Mljet presented by Dubrovnik Guide
- Mljet Information - Zvonko's Travels
- St Paul Shipwreck controversy
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
| Cities and Municipalities of Dubrovnik-Neretva County | |
|---|---|
|
Cities and towns: Dubrovnik | Korčula | Metković | Opuzen | Ploče |
