Žirje, Croatia

Žirje (pronounced [ʒîːrjɛ]; Italian: Zuri; Latin: Zurium/Surium) is an island and a settlement in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea. It is situated in the Šibenik archipelago, about 22 kilometres (14 miles) southwest of Šibenik, which makes it the most remote permanently inhabited island in the Šibenik archipelago.[2][3] Its area is 15.08 km2,[4] and it has a population of 103 (2011 census).[1] Its population is steadily decreasing (720 residents in 1953,[5] 207 residents in 1981,[5] and 124 residents in 2001[6]).

Žirje
Satellite image of Žirje
Žirje
Coordinates: 43.652311°N 15.661636°E / 43.652311; 15.661636
Country Croatia
CountyŠibenik-Knin County
MunicipalityŠibenik
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total103
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

The island is composed of two limestone ridges. Nestled between them is a fertile valley.[5] The vegetation of the island is mainly composed of maquis shrubland, with some farm land in the central parts of the island.[7] Main industries are agriculture (grapes, olives, plums, figs and sour cherries) and fishing.[5][7] Fish is abundant in the waters around Žirje.[2][8][9] Tourism on Žirje has remained largely undeveloped in comparison to the other islands in the Croatian Adriatic.[10]

In the 12th and 13th centuries the island was defended by fortresses and walls[5] constructed on the foundations of an earlier Byzantine fortress from the 6th century. .[11] Due to its use by the Yugoslav Army, the southern and south-western parts of the island were off limits to the islanders and visitors for nearly half a century.[3]

The ferry port on the island provides a link to the county seat Šibenik via the D128 route.

References
  1. "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2011 Census: Žirje". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
  2. Žirje on adriagate.com
  3. Faričić & Magaš 2004, p. 127.
  4. 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. doi:10.15291/geoadria.127. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  5. (in Croatian) "Žirje". General Encyclopedia of the Yugoslav Lexicographical Institute (in Croatian). 8. Zagreb: Yugoslav Lexicographical Institute. 1982.
  6. "STANOVNIŠTVO PREMA PRISUTNOSTI/ODSUTNOSTI U NASELJU POPISA, PO NASELJIMA, POPIS 2001". Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  7. (in Croatian) First Croatian online peljar
  8. Žirje on croatiatouristcenter.com Archived 2006-11-09 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Faričić & Magaš 2004, p. 145.
  10. Faričić & Magaš 2004, pp. 146–148.
  11. Žirje on adriatic-croatian.com

Bibliography
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