In the central part of the Croatian Adriatic, in the northern part of Dalmatia, on the meeting point of Šibenik and Zadar islands, is situated a group of 140 islands, the densest in the Mediterranean Sea, called Kornati. Because of its exceptional landscape beauty, interesting geomorphology, diversity of the coastline and especially because of the rich biocoenoses of the marine ecosystem, greater part of the Kornati maritime zone has been declared a national park in 1980, and in 2007 was included on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Site, under the name Kornati National Park and Telašćica Nature Park.
Most of the terrain in the islands is karst-limestone which, in the distant geological past arose from sediment from the sea, so in the stone there are numerous fossils. In the area there examples of all the typical forms of karst: bizarre shapes formed by the atmosphere, unexplored caves, areas of flat rock and, above all, cliffs. The larger islands are covered with pasture vegetation, more accurate with very sparse maquis, because forests were systematically burned. Fauna consists of numerous birds, but also lizards, ring-snakes, amphibians, rodents, bats, and a single species of carnivores, the beech marten. As regards marine life, the Kornati islands are typical of the Adriatic, but, due to the underwater relief, streams and special characteristics of the sea in this labyrinth, there are also some peculiarities.
Many of the islands have vulgar names and the explanation is very simple: when Austrian surveyors came to record the archipelago at the end of the 19th century, their local guides mocked them by making up vulgar names for the various locations. In nowaday there are no permanent settlements in Kornati, but human presence on the islands appears to extend back to the Neolithic Age. Were found there Illyrians ruins and tumuli, and then the remains of Romans settlements. The time of Byzantines left the Turet fort, but also an early christian basilica. During the long period of Venetian occupation, the islands were used for resupplying the Venetian fleet.
About the stamps
The first stamp is part of the series Croatian Towns, issued on October 10, 2007 and designed by Hrvoje Šercar. The three stamps of the series are:
• Omiš (1,8 HRK) - it's on this postcard
• Koprivnica (2,3 HRK)
• Krk (2,8 HRK)
The stamp on the postcard has an overprint in the top left, with another value (1.60).
The second, designed by Alenka Lalić, was issued on March 11, 2013 for celebrate Easter. One of Easter's traditions is blessing of olive and palm branches on Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This stamp has used the motive of Dubrovačka poma, a braided palm branch which is worn to church for the dedication on Palm Sunday in southern Croatia, especially around Dubrovnik.
Reference
Kornati - Wikipedia
Kornati National Park and Telašćica Nature Park - UNESCO official website
Nationalni Park Kornati - Nationalni Park Kornati official website
Croatian Towns - Hrvatska Posta official website
Easter 2013 - Hrvatska Posta official website
sender: Vladimir Klešćic (direct swap)
sent from Samobor (Zagreb County / Croatia), on 09.04.2013
Wonderful postcard...the deep blue sea looks amazing!
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