AREA INFO

ABOUT CROATIA

Area
56,542 km2, with an additional 31,067 km2 of territorial waters.

Population
4.437.460

Capital
Zagreb (779.145 inhabitants - the administrative, cultural, academic and communication centre of the country).

Length of the coast
5,835 km - including 4,058 km of island, islet and reef coastline.

Number of islands, islets and reefs
1,185. The largest islands are those of Krk and Cres. There are 67 inhabited islands.

Climate
Northern Croatia has a continental climate; Central Croatia has a semi-highland and highland climate, while the Croatian coast has a Mediterranean climate. Winter temperatures range from -1 to 30°C in the continental region, -5 to 0°C in the mountain region and 5 to 10°C in the coastal region. Summer temperatures range from 22 to 26°C in the continental region, 15 to 20°C in the mountain region and 26 to 30°C in the coastal region.

Population
The majority of the population are Croats. National minorities include Serbs, Moslems, Slovenes, Italians, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, and others.

Official language and alphabet
Croatian language and Latin alphabet.

Religions
The majority of the population are Roman Catholics, and in addition there are a number of those of Orthodox faith, as well as Muslims, and Christians of other denominations.

Currency
national currency is Croatian Kuna. There are banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 Kunas and coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Lipas in circulation (100 lipas = 1 Kuna)

ABOUT ISTRIA

Location
the westernmost County of the Republic of Croatia, the largest peninsula of the Adriatic

Area
2.820 km2 (triangle Dragonja, Rt Kamenjak, Ucka)

Population
200.000

Coast length
445,1 km (well-indented coast is twice as long as the road one). The western coast of Istria is 242,5 km long, with islands 327,5 km (178,1 M). The eastern coast of Istria is 202,6 km long, with the pertaining islets 212,4 km (114,5 M)

Climate
mild, Mediterranean climate (warm and dry summers, mild and pleasant winters)
Average amount of sunshine: 2.388 hours. Owing to the day's length and plenty of clear days throughout the summer it has the longest insolation with a daily average of 10 hours in Istrian seaside resorts. Characteristic winds are "bura" (wind blowing from the north to the south, bringing clear weather), "jugo" (south, warm wind bringing rain) and "maestral" (summer breeze blowing from the land to the sea)

Vegetation
Istria is the largest green oasis of the North Adriatic. The coast and the islands are covered with pine woods and easily recognizable green macchia. The main specimens of macchia are holm oak and strawberry trees. 35% Istria is covered with forests

Rivers
Mirna, Dragonja and Rasa

Sea
the lowest sea temperature is in March ranging from 9.3 C up to 11.1 C and being the highest in August when it reaches 23.3 C and 24.1 C; salinity amounts approximately to 36 - 38 pro mille

Administrative centre
Pazin, 9 000 inhabitants

Economic center
Pula, 82 000 inhabitants