Istria
Geographical Information
Position
The most western county of the Republic of Croatia, the biggest Adriatic peninsula, Istria, has the
shape of a triangle, the terminal points of which are the River Dragonja, Cape Kamenjak and Učka.
Surface
2.820 km2
Population
206.344 (2001)
Administrative Capital
Pazin (9.227 inhabitants)
Economic Centre
Pula (58.594 inhabitants)
Coastline Length
445,1 km (indented coastline twice as long as the road line)
The western Istrian coast is 242,5 km long, 327,5 km (178,1 M) including the islands.
The eastern Istrian coast is 202,6 km long, 212,4 km (114,5 M) including the islands.
Towns and Municipalities
The County of Istria consists of the following local government units: 10 towns and 31 municipalities.
Towns
Buje, Buzet, Labin, Novigrad, Pazin, Poreč, Pula, Rovinj, Umag and Vodnjan
Municipalities
Bale, Barban, Brtonigla, Cerovlje, Fažana, Funtana, Gračišće, Grožnjan, Kanfanar, Karojba, KaštelirLabinci, Kršan, Lanišće, Ližnjan, Lupoglav, Marčana, Medulin, Motovun, Oprtalj, Pićan, Raša, Sveti
Lovreč, Sveta Nedelja, Sveti Petar u Šumi, Svetvinčenat, Tar-Vabriga, Tinjan, Višnjan, Vižinada, Vrsar,
Žminj
Climate
The Mediterranean climate is one of the most important features of the Istrian peninsula. It gradually
changes along the coast toward the interior and becomes continental, due to the cold air coming from
the mountains as well as the closeness of Alps.
The main features of the Mediterranean climate are warm and dry summers, with an average of 2.400
sunny hours per year. Winters are mild and agreeable, it seldom snows. The average yearly
temperature along the northern part of the coast is around 14°C, and in its southern part and on the
islands around 16°C. January is the coldest month with average temperature at around 6°C, and July
and August are the warmest with average temperature around 24°C. The period when the average
daily temperature exceeds 10°C lasts about 260 days per year, and the period of hot weather with the
maximum daily temperature over 30°C lasts around twenty days at the most.
The amount of precipitations increases from the western coast toward the interior.
The winds typical of this area are bora, jugo and maestral. Bora blows from the north to the south
and brings dry and clear weather. Jugo is a warm wind which brings moisture and rain and maestral is
a landward breeze.
The sea temperature is the lowest in March ranging from 9,3°C to 11,1°C and the highest in August
ranging from 23,3°C to 24,1°C. The average salinity of sea water is between 36 and 38 per mille.
Coast
The length of the Istrian coast, islands and islets included, amounts to 539 km. The western Istrian
coast is more indented and together with the islands is some 327 km long. The eastern coast with its
islands is 212 km long.
Most of the Istrian coast consists of karst and limestone soil. Foundered karst recesses became
specific branchy bays, such as the Pula harbour, Medulin Bay, the local waters of Rovinj and Poreč
and the like. Separated limestone hills became islands. This is a well-indented coast with many
lagoons, deeper bays as well as river estuaries. Apart from numerous islets situated by the coast
between Poreč and Rovinj, the islands which stand out in the south are the Brijuni Islands.
Relief
Slightly sinuous relief forms rise toward the central part of the peninsula, reaching their highest point
in the north-east on the massif of Ćićarija and Učka Mountain – a 1369 m high Vojak peak (situated in
the Primorsko-goranska County).
Geologically and geomorphologically, the Istrian peninsula is divided into three completely different
parts. A mountainous northern and northeast edge of the peninsula, due to its barren vegetation and
karst surfaces, is also known as the White Istria. Southwest of the White Istria lies a morphologically
richer area. These are lower hills of flysh, consisting of impervious marly soil, clay and sandstone,
called the Gray Istria. The limestone plateau by the coast, covered in red soil, is known as the Red
Istria.
Vegetation
One third of the Istrian peninsula is covered by forests, while on the coast and islands we can mostly
find pine woods and macchia with holm oaks and strawberry trees.
One of the most significant features of the Istrian vegetation are the common oak forests by the River
Mirna, the type of oak which is usually found in the lowland continental parts of Croatia.
The Istrian soil abounds with natural beauties, one of the most interesting among them being the
Brijuni Islands which is a home to around 680 different plants and a number of olive groves. Učka and
Ćićarija, above 500 meters above sea level, are covered with beech forests.
The Istrian County has many protected nature reserves – Brijuni National Park, Učka Nature Park,
protected landscapes of Lim Fjord, Motovun Forest, Golden Cape Park Forest and Palud Ornithological
Reserve near Rovinj, Šijana Park Forest and the protected landscapes of Cape Kamenjak on the very
south of Istria...
Brijuni National Park
The Brijuni Islands, situated northwest of Pula, consist of fourteen islands (and several reefs): Veliki
Brijun, Mali Brijun, Sv. Marko, Gaz, Okrugljak, Supin, Supinić, Galija, Grunj, Vanga, Madona, Vrsar,
Jerolim and Kozada. The overall surface of the islands amounts to 736 ha and a 46,6 km long
coastline. Veliki Brijun is the biggest and the most significant island with most of the architectural
heritage and modern facilities.
Brijuni have a mild Mediterranean climate with 2387 sunny hours per year, the reason why they have
been used as a holiday destination since ancient times until today.
The average temperature during the winter is 6,3°C, in the summer 22,2°C and in the autumn 14,8°C.
The average sea temperature in the summer is between 22 and 25°C.
The winds on the Brijuni Islands are moderate, it seldom snows, the precipitations are also moderate
at about 812 mm per year. These climatic conditions made it possible for the islands to become the
home to more than 680 kinds of plants and 250 bird species.
Economy
The Istrian economy is diversified. Traditionally, it is the most visited tourist region, realizing 25% of
all arrivals and 32% of all overnight stays in the Republic of Croatia in year 2008. It has a developed
processing industry, construction sector, trade, fishing and fish farming, agriculture and transport. The
number of economic operators and financial indicators show that the most frequent business activities
are: processing industry, tourism and trade.
The most developed branches of industry in Istria include the following: shipbuilding, construction
material production (lime, cement, brick, stone), production of tobacco products, furniture, electrical
machines and devices, car industry spare parts, glass; as well as processing industry of metal, plastic,
wood, textile and food production.
In recent years great efforts have been made in the revitalization of agriculture, and great progress
has been made in vine growing, olive growing and the ecological food production system.
Istria Tourist Board
T. +385 (0)52 452 797
F. +385 (0)52 452 796
[email protected]
www.istra.hr