Telašćica Nature Park

Telašćica Cove is one of the largest natural ports in the Adriatic. Once you sail into this cove, which penetrates almost eight kilometres into the coastline, you are sure to return. It includes 19 islands and islets, 13 in the area and six in the cove itself.

Salt lake Mir

 

In the south-western part of Telašćica Nature Park, you will come across an unusual sight. There, on a narrow part of the coast that separates the open sea from Telašćica Cove, there is a lake saltier than the sea. Its name is Mir. After the last ice age, the sea level rose by about 120 metres and filled a karst depression with seawater, creating a lake about 900 metres long and about 300 metres wide.

 

With a maximum depth of about eight metres, the lake is shallow and is filled with seawater that penetrates through underground cracks during high tide. In summer, the temperature of the lake rises to 33 degrees Celsius, ideal for those who like to swim in warm water. Near Mir is a site called Skrača, a kind of open-air gallery with several thousand stone sculptures. Take a walk there and enjoy the works of unknown authors, visitors to Telašćica Nature Park, who completely spontaneously put together figures made of local slab stone.

The Stene cliffs are the largest in the Adriatic

 

On the outer side of Dugi Otok are the most impressive cliffs of the Adriatic, a poetic contrast to the quiet Telašćica Cove that will give your trip an adventurous feel. Known by the people as Stene, they have been washed and shaped by the sea for thousands of years. From Cape Mrzlovica in the north-west to the slopes of Veli Vrh (the Great Peak) in the south-east, the Stene cliffs vertically descend into the depths of the sea, down to over 85 metres below the surface.The highest peak of the cliffs is Grpašćak, at 161 metres above sea level.

 

The former military fortification located there was renovated and turned into a modern interpretation and education centre. Grpašćak is a must-see location at Telašćica Nature Park, one of multiple places where the best selfies are taken. It is an ideal starting point for exploring the rich natural and cultural heritage of Dugi Otok. And that’s without even mentioning the view it gives of Telašćica and Kornati National Park — an experience to remember. An entry ticket for the nature park is also valid for a tour of the centre.

Coves at Telašćica

 

The beautiful coves, capes and islets at Telašćica and the remarkably clean sea invite you to have a swim and enjoy yourself. The choice of coves to visit is truly extensive. If you love the combination of sand and gravel and you don't have a boat, you won't find it too difficult walking some 45 minutes from Mir Cove along the narrow coastal path to Lojišće Cove. If you’re looking to have a swim, it’s best to come by boat and anchor in one of the many coves. Boaters can anchor their boats at the designated locations in the following coves: Mir, Magrovica, Podugopolje, Pasjak, Jaz, Kršovica, Tripuljak and Pod Katina. In addition to the coves Mir, Tripuljak and Kršovica, mooring buoys are also located in Kučinmul Cove.

Flora and fauna of Telašćica

 

At Telašćica Nature Park, there are more than 300 plant species and just as many animal species in the underwater world alone, such as extraordinarily beautiful red corals, European shags and bottlenose dolphins. A species of deep-sea carnivorous sponge (Asbestopluma hypogea) was discovered in a submerged cave on the island of Garmenjak Veli, at a depth of only 24 metres.

 

This deep-sea creature has so far been discovered at such ‘shallow’ depths only in France. Because of the large temperature differences between the summer and winter period and above-average salinity, few marine organisms have found their home in the salt lake Mir, including the eel, locally known as kajman or bižat. Mediterranean plants grow on the shore, such as the knapweed Centaurea ragusina ssp. lungensis or the tree spurge, but also ten species of protected orchids, and the short-toed snake eagle, peregrine falcon and Eurasian eagle-owl can be seen flying above Telašćica.

 

Telašćica Nature Park has also become a kind of refuge for abandoned donkeys. They used to roam freely in the area of Mir Cove, often browsing through the contents of the swimmers' bags. Now they enjoy the sun and shade in a fenced part of the cove. If you approach them, be careful. Although they are used to people, they can also get nervous.

If you are staying here but did not come to Dugi Otok by car, the tourist agencies offer daily transport to the nature park. Since more than 64 percent of the area of Telašćica Nature Park consists of marine space, arriving by boat is the easiest option. You can sail in on your own or rented boat or with some of the shipowners and agencies that organise trips to the park. Entry to Telašćica Nature Park is charged, and tickets can be purchased from rangers in the park area as well as through agencies or the online store.

 

More information about the ticket prices can be found on the official website of the nature park.