Krk is the northeast island of Croatia. With a population of more than 19 000 inhabitants (2011), Krk is the most populous island in the Adriatic sea. It is located very near the city of Rijeka which makes the geographical location of the island strategically very important. This was manifested in many fields such as economy, trading, politics, and all kinds of traffic. There is no doubt about how important Krk is - in all ways. However, we are here to go over some fun facts about the island.
Is Krk the largest Croatian island?
After the very long tradition of being recognized as the largest island, the things for Krk slightly changed in 2011. The geographical survey and some remeasurements showed how neighboring island of Cres has an equal surface area. So, what if you are in a quiz and you have a million dollars question: “What is the name of the largest Croatian island?”. You will not be mistaken if you answer Krk. Krk and Cres have approximately the same surface area, but the tide and ebb tide (reflux) will always play their game and never keep the sea level exactly the same. Cres has steeper shores, so when the sea level rises, the surface area of Cres decreases slower than the surface area of Krk.
How do I pronounce Krk?
Even the word seems funny to many tourists worldwide, most of them pronounce the word Krk perfectly - as it really is: [kr̩̂k].
There are multiple theories of the origin of the name Krk. The most common one is how the ancient name Curicum was shortened by the time to the local dialect to the word Khark. Then it becomes today’s version - Krk.
Krk was also known for centuries as Vekla. This word also has the Romanized variant used by the Venetian which is Veglia!
What do I know about Krk bridge?
The Krk bridge was built and officially opened in July 1980. It is a 1430 meters long bridge with two attractive arches. Besides connecting the island’s inhabitants with the mainland and the mainland with Rijeka airport which is located at island Krk, this bridge is memorable for carrying more than a million vehicles per year. The fun fact about it is how it does not connect the mainland and island Krk directly. The bridge is at the north end of Krk island and uses the small island of Otoćić Sveti Marko (St. Mark's Islet) as a mid-support. It is definitely worth mentioning how the ferry for surrounding islands Rab, Cres, Lošinj, etc. departs from the island of Krk, which means that people who are heading to any of those also pass over the Krk bridge.
Does Krk have an international airport?
The official name is Rijeka airport (RJK). The airport is located on the island of Krk just 3 kilometers from the Krk bridge. That makes it easy to access by car, bus, or any other road vehicle. The nearest bigger town on the island is Omišalj. When you land here, any of the island’s cities are very close. If you are heading to the city of Rijeka, it is a half an hour drive. Even the capital - Zagreb is only 2 hours of driving from here. The airport is international and connects this area to about 30 cities throughout Europe. The airport also offers various car rentals, bus lines, and taxis.
Why is Krk the cradle of Croatian literacy?
The lovely town Baška at the southern Krk is a place where Baška stone tablet was found. Baška stone tablet is one of the most significant items in the history of Croatia. It is very famous and has a huge significance in the Croatian history, culture, language, and literacy. It is possible for tourists to visit the church of St. Lucy in village Jurandvor near Baška and witness one of the most famous signs of Croatian literacy. It dates from 1100 and records King Zvonimir’s donation of a piece of land to a Benedictine abbey.
What makes Krk a paradise for active tourism lovers?
You already know how island Krk is huge, well located and connected, and has historical significance. Krk is also very special in terms of it’s nature and variety. There are huge differences between the vegetation of the northern and southern islands of Krk. Krk belongs to the sunniest parts of Europe with more than 2500 hours of sun per year. Krk has 1400 different plant species. The landscape offers it all: from rocky lands and forests to vineyards and olive groves. Last but not least: Krk has over 300 kilometers of walking and cycling trails!
What has medicinal mud to do with Krk?
Klimno is the village in the eastern part of the Krk. There you can find a beach of medicinal mud where many go because of the belief how the mud has a positive impact on their health. Another fun thing about the beach there is how it is very gradual. Once your feet are in the sea, you can still walk straight for minutes and your knees won’t be wet. Not a place to jump in the sea, but definitely a place to visit.
