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Istrian County

Istrian County includes most of Istria – the biggest Croatian peninsula. The most western point of the Republic of Croatia is in the Istrian County (Bašanija, Lako Cape) at 45° north latitude. The Istrian peninsula has 3.476 square kilometers of surface area. This area is divided by three states: Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. The largest part of the peninsula, i.e. 3.130 square kilometers (90% of the surface area), belongs to the Republic of Croatia. Most of the Croatian part of the peninsula belongs to the Istrian County, some 2.820 square kilometers, amounting to 4,98% of the overall surface area of the Republic of Croatia. According to the 2001 census the total number of inhabitants in the Istrian County amounted to 206.344 which is about 4,65% of the population of the Republic of Croatia. Average population density is 73 inhabitants per km2 from which 70,7% lives in towns. The total number of tourist arrivals in 2011 in the Istrian County was 3.012.204, while the number of overnight stays amounted to 20.646.728.

– 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

– Language : Croatian

– Coast Length : 445 km (well-indented coast is twice as long as the road one)

– 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.

– 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)