National action for tourists launched: “Croatian islands – COVID free zone”
In anticipation of the upcoming tourist season, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, in cooperation with the Croatian Institute of Public Health, is launching the action “Croatian Islands – COVID free zone“.
At the moment, the epidemiological map of the Republic of Croatia shows all the islands within counties, although their incidence is much lower than in other parts of the county. Therefore, on the website SafestayinCroatia, in addition to information on the epidemiological situation by counties, tourists will soon have access to special information on the epidemiological situation on our islands.
The Croatian archipelago is the second largest in the Mediterranean and consists of 78 islands, 524 islets and 642 cliffs and reefs that are particularly attractive to tourists and thanks to which a large part of tourist traffic.
In addition to the epidemiological situation on the islands, the website will provide information about the locations of all tourist testing points as well as data on air, land and sea connections of the island so that tourists can get accurate information on how to get to each island.
Brac island richer for three hiking and two bike paths
This year, the Tourist Board of Bol on Brač island paid special attention to the development of active tourism designing new outdoor programs, hiking and biking trails.
The trails are based on local legends and the trail of their phenomenal project “Our Stories of Bol“. These are three new hiking trails – Feel the peace 8 km long, Discover the legends of the Dragon’s Cave 11 km long and Find Macic’s treasure with a total length of 16 km.
There are also two new bicycle paths: Brač villas, 45 km long, which is especially attractive because it leads to the top of Vidova Gora, and 20 km of the Intoxicating scent of Brač trail.
Active tourism with an emphasis on cycling tourism and other sports such as windsurfing are some of the prerequisites for extending the season. Especially in this pandemic time when outdoor activities are preferred.
Brbišćica on Dugi Otok declared a protected part of nature
The Brbišćica site on Dugi Otok, where a dinosaur fossil was found in 2011, has been declared a protected part of nature. The Ministry of the Economy has entered in the Register of Protected Minerals and Fossils 24 sites in the Republic of Croatia that are significant due to their rarity, size, appearance, educational and scientific significance. In the area of Croatia, 23 dinosaur footprints and one site with petrified bones were discovered and explored, and it is precisely this one that is located on Dugi Otok.
The dinosaur fossil on Dugi Otok was noticed in 2011 by the Zadar naturalist Donat Petricioli. On the stone ridges of Brbišćica, west of Brbinj, he discovered a fossil of a lizard that, as it turned out, lived about 100 million years ago, as well as numerous fossils of fish, plants and snails. According to the first research conducted by experts from the Croatian Museum of Natural History, it is most likely a completely new species of dinosaur.
Fossil material collected in the field is stored in the Natural History Museum, while the most important find, the fossil reptile, is located in the tidal zone, on the rock exposed to the waves, so it needs to be protected. By the decision of the ministry, it is forbidden to take from nature or destroy protected dinosaur fossils and to carry out interventions that may lead to damage to fossils and their sites.
