Dugi otok has the same meaning as Long Island in English. Well, it is not the one in the state New York, but one of the islands in Zadar’s archipelago in Croatia. Since it is 43 kilometers long and just 4,6 kilometers wide, it is quite obvious where that name came from. Another thing obvious about this Adriatic island is its beauty.
It is a pretty small island, bursting with diversities; from karsts fields covered with stone and macchia to the forests; from limestone peaks to underground caves. The island has no drinkable springs of water, but it has tree lakes – two periodical with fresh water and another with salt water, placed in the Nature Park Telašćica.
The Nature Park Telašćica is south west part of the island. It is a picturesque bay and its surroundings, famous of its preserved eko system and bio diversity. On south side of the bay facing open sea, Dugi Otok has the most known cliffs on the Adriatic. The features of those cliffs are rich and intriguing flora and fauna and the fact that they are the best lookout for dolphins, the last sea mammals in the Adriatic.
Dugi Otok has twelve settlements; the most distinguished are Sali, Božava, Brbinj and Zaglav. Those are the harbors of the island with more than few daily boat and ferry lines with Zadar. In summer time, the island has direct ferry line with Ancona in Italy. Due to the natural grace, numerous islets around, and vicinity of National Park Kornati, Dugi Otok is attractive tourist destination. It has few hotels and a great number of its 2873 residents are renting their cozy private apartments and rooms. Gastronomy offer is excellent, activities diverse and fulfilling, with famous ‘Saljske užance’, summer festivity, when local customs and traditions appeal hundreds of inquisitors.
