Geographical Characteristics of the island Korcula

The island of Korcula belongs to the central Dalmatian archipelago, separated from the Peljesac peninsula by a narrow strait of Peljesac, between 900 and 3,000 meters wide (illustration, right). It is the sixth largest Adriatic island with a rather indented coast. The highest peaks are Klupca (568 m) and Kom (510 m). The climate is mild; an average air temperature in January is 9.8 °C and in July 26.9 °C; the average annual rainfall is 1,100 mm. The island is largely covered with the Mediterranean flora; at some places are pine forests. The island also includes the towns of Vela Luka and Blato, and the other major places on the coast are Lumbarda, Raciste, and in the interior Zrnovo, Smokvica, Cara and Pupnat. The regional road connects major places on the island. Ferry lines connect the island from ports Korcula and Vela Luka with the mainland (to Orebic, and to Split stopping at Hvar). It is one of the most populated Adriatic islands, though the number of permanent inhabitants has been decreasing steadily over the last century.


Composition of the soil: limestone, dolomite and marl
Relief: hilly island with numerous small fields and valleys
Sea currents: around the island 1-3 knots, in the peljesac Channel around 3 knots
Salinity of the sea: 38 per thousand
Area: 276 sq.km; sixth largest Croatian island in size
Length: 47 km
Width: 8 km
Length of the coast of the island : 182 km
Number of islets in the Korcula Archipelago: 50
Number of calms and capes: 195
Depth of the sea around the island: from 20 to 75 m
Height: 568 m (mount Klupca)
Snow: 2-5 cm overnight once in 3-5 years
Waters: there is practically no surface water
Winds : in winter time, the south wind (jugo) mostly blows (a warm and moist wind from the SE direction), and the cold and dry north wind (Bura) from the NE, but in summertime, the winds are most often Maestrals from the NW and numerous thermal winds
Tide: normal rise and fall of 30 cm
Mean number of sunshine hours per annum: 2700 hours

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