Biševo

Biševo
Biševo island seen from the airplane.
Biševo
Geography
Location Adriatic Sea
Coordinates 42°58′N 16°0′E / 42.967°N 16.000°E / 42.967; 16.000Coordinates: 42°58′N 16°0′E / 42.967°N 16.000°E / 42.967; 16.000
Area 5.8 km2 (2.2 sq mi)
Highest elevation 239 m (784 ft)
Highest point Straženica
Administration
Croatia
County Split-Dalmatia
Demographics
Population 15 (2011)

Biševo (pronounced [bîʃɛv̞ɔ], Chakavian: Bisovo, Italian: Busi) is an island in the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. It is situated in the middle of the Dalmatian archipelago, five kilometers southwest of the Island of Vis. Its area is 5.8 km2[1][2] and it has a population of 15 (as of 2011).[3] It is composed of limestone;[4] the highest point is Straženica, 239 m high.[4] In the center of the island there is a fertile field, the northern part of the island is covered with pine forests and the rest of the island is covered with maquis shrubland or bare rocks. The coastal sea belt is a rich fishing area.[5] The main industries are viticulture and fishing.

History

A Benedictine monastery was founded on Biševo in 1050 by Ivan Grlić from Split, but it was deserted two centuries later because of the danger of pirates. The church of Saint Sylvester is preserved near the ruins of the monastery.[1][6]

Blue Cave

On the steep shores there are many caves, the most famous being Blue Cave, which was carved in the limestone by the sea. It is located on the eastern side of the island and is one of the most important attractions of the Adriatic. It was well-known to local fishermen, who in 1884 showed it to the Austrian artist, explorer, and speleologist Eugen von Ransonnet-Villez, who published an article in the Viennese daily Neue Freie Presse declaring that its beauty surpassed even that of Capri's famed Blue Grotto. From that time on, it became a major tourist attraction.

The approach to the cave is only possible by boat.[5] It is 18 meters long, 6 meters deep, and 6 meters high.[4] The entrance to the cave is only 1.5 meters high and 2.5 meters wide.[7] During the summer between 10 am and 1 pm, sunbeams penetrate through the submarine opening in Blue Cave and are reflected from the white bottom floor, coloring the cave blue and objects in the water silver.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 (in Croatian) First Croatian online peljar
  2. ↑ Duplančić Leder, Tea; Ujević, Tin; Čala, Mendi (June 2004). "Coastline lengths and areas of islands in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea determined from the topographic maps at the scale of 1 : 25 000" (PDF). Geoadria. Zadar. 9 (1): 5–32. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
  3. ↑ "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2011 Census: Biševo". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "Biševo". General Encyclopedia of the Yugoslav Lexicographical Institute (in Croatian). 1. Zagreb: Yugoslav Lexicographical Institute. 1977.
  5. 1 2 3 Biševo at dalmacija.net
  6. ↑ Biševo on croatiatouristcenter.com
  7. ↑ (in Croatian) Biševo on nautic-apartments.com Archived January 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.

Bibliography

  • Šerić, Neven (2006). Biserna ogrlica - pučinski otoci srednjeg Jadrana (RTF) (in Croatian). Marjan tisak. ISBN 953-214-367-X. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
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