Climate
The
island of Krk has a mild Mediterranean climate with an amazing 2,500 hours of
sunshine per year. The springs here are pleasant, while the summers are warm
with minimum precipitation, and sea temperatures even rising above 25°C. The
bathing season extends from May to September. The most common wind in the
summer is called the maestral; it blows from the north-west and brings relief
during the hottest days of the year in July and August. The autumns are mild
and the winters windy. The typical wind in the winter is the bura, which blows
from the east and north-east, and in the spring and autumn it's the southern
jugo wind.
Flora
and fauna
The
flora of the island of Krk includes 1,400 land species, which is almost half of
the flora present in Croatia. The Asperula Borbasiana plant is endemic to the
island of Krk. The specific climatic conditions have resulted in the
cultivation of grapes, figs, and olives, while medicinal plants (wormwood,
sage, yarrow, Spanish broom) create a kind of natural open-air aromatherapy.
Another distinctive feature of Krk is the fact that there are certain trees
growing here that cannot be found on any other Adriatic island. These include
the sessile oak, linden, sycamore maple, Norway maple, and Scots elm.
The
fauna of the island of Krk is also very interesting. A bird reserve that
encompasses the island of Prvić and the steep shores on the north-eastern part
of the island of Krk is the northernmost habitat of the protected griffon
vulture. In addition, the island of Krk is inhabited by golden eagles,
short-toed snake eagles and many other interesting bird species, as well as 30
indigenous amphibians and reptiles, which makes Krk a unique island in the
entire Mediterranean area. The Dalmatian wall lizard (Podarcis melisellensis),
an indigenous Croatian species, is particularly interesting. Another endemic
and relict species is the blue-throated keeled lizard, whose males attract
attention with their striking blue throat and orange belly. They can often be
seen as they rest on walls covered with vegetation.
The
lake of Jezero close to Njivice is the largest natural freshwater habitat on
the island of Krk. Its water surface covers an area of 35 hectares and the belt
of reeds and peat around the shore extends for 60 hectares. The lake and its
immediate surroundings are home to numerous wetland and freshwater types of
vegetation that are otherwise rare in karst environments. Jezero is also an
important bird habitat. Certain bird species nest here, and in the spring and
autumn there is an intense bird migration above the lake, which is largely
influenced by the phenomenon of the strong winds that blow here in March. The
birds wait for favourable weather conditions so they can fly over Mount Velebit
and Gorski Kotar, and then stop at Jezero on the island of Krk to restore their
energy before continuing their migration. Cranes are particularly interesting:
these birds are approximately one metre tall and have a wingspan of 230 cm.
Flocks with 500-600 individual birds can be seen from Krk.