Istria is the largest Croatian peninsula, unique and magnificent, around which the Adriatic Sea has deeply etched itself into the land, sprinkling its jagged coastline with a thousand lagoons and islands, and surrounded in the northeast by the Cicarija and the Ucka Mountain, Istria is prepared to reveal its thousand year old history to the chance traveller.

Useful links:

• Istria Tourist Board: www.istra.hr

• Portal about Istria: www.histrica.com/hr/istra/

• Official web-site of Region of Istria: www.istra-istria.hr

Location :: The westernmost county of the Republic of Croatia, The largest peninsula of the Adriatic
Area :: 2.820 km2 (triangle Dragonja, Kamenjak, Ucka), population :: 206,344 (2001.)
Sea :: The lowest sea temperature is in March ranging from 9,3°C up to 11,1°C. The highest sea temperature is in August when it reaches up to 24,1°C. Salinity amounts approximately to 36-38 pro mille.
Rivers :: Mirna, Dragonja and Raša
Vegetation :: Istria is the largest green oasis of the North Adriatic. The coast and the islands are covered with pine woods and easily recognizable green macchia. The main specimens of macchia are holm oak and strawberry trees. 35% of Istria is covered with forests.
Administrative Centre :: Pazin (9,227 inhabitants), economic Centre :: Pula (58,594 inhabitants)

- Istria is the largest peninsula on the Adriatic Coast, and the westernmost region of Croatia.
- The average annual hours of sunshine on the Istrian Peninsula is 2,380.
- The highest mountain in Istria is Ucka (1,396m).
- The longest river is the Mirna (32 km).
- The largest town is Pula (82,000 inhabitants).
- The smallest town in Istria, and in the world is Hum.
- The southernmost town in Istria is Premantura.
- The best-protected Istrian harbor is Pula. The narrow bay cuts 4 km inland.
- The westernmost structure in Istria (therefore Croatia) is the lighthouse in Savudrija.
- The largest naturist center in both Istria & Europe is Koversada near Vrsar, with a daily capacity of 12 000 tourists.
- The largest tunnel in Istria is Ucka Tunnel which is 5 070 m long.
- The largest Istrian viaduct bridges Lim Bay. It is 552 m long and 120 m high.
- The average air temperature during the coldest month (February) is 6°C & during the warmest period (July) is 23°C.
- The average annual temperature is 14°C.
- The lowest average sea temperature is 9°C and the highest is 24°C.
- The largest animal in Istria is the Istrian ox, measuring 1.8 m in height and weighing over 1 200 kg.