About Istra

Location The westernmost county of the Republic of Croatia The largest peninsula of the Adriatic	Area 2.820 km2 (triangle Dragonja, Kamenjak, Učka)
Population 206,344	Rivers Mirna, Dragonja and Raša
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 23,3°C and 24,1°C. Salinity amounts approximately to 36-38 pro mille.
Coast Length 445 km (well-indented coast is twice as long as the road one) The western coast of Istria is 242,5 km long, with island 327,5 km. The eastern coast of Istria is 202 km long with the pertaining islets 212 km.
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.
• Istria is the westernmost region of Croatia.
• The average annual hours of sunshine on the Istrian Peninsula is 2,380.
• The highest mountain in Istria is Učka (1,396m).
• The longest river is the Mirna (32 km).
• The largest town is Pula (82,000 inhabitants).
• The smallest town is Hum.
• Hum is also the smallest town in the world.
• 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. That is the largest lighthouse in Istria, 36 m high, built in 1818.
• Together with its numerous bays, peninsulas and islands the Istrian coastline is 537 km long. Owing to its indentedness and large number of islands, the length of the west coast is 327 km, whereas the total length of the east coast is 212 km.
• The largest naturist center in both Istria and Europe is Koversada near Vrsar, with a daily capacity of 12,000 tourists.
• The largest tunnel in Istria is Učka 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 and 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.