Korcula Island
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General
The central-Dalmatian island of Korcula stretches parallel with the nearby mainland in the west-cast direction. It is 46.8 km long, its average width is 5.3 to 7.8 km, it covers an area of 270 km2, and is the sixth largest Adriatic island. The Peljesac Channel, which separates it from Peljesac peninsula, is 1,270 m wide at its narrowest point.
Korcula is built of limestone and impermeable dolomite, and in places it retains rainwater in pools. The lime, stone areas are crisscrossed with chasms, pits and sinkholes. Karstic poljes (plains enclosed by steep walls) and small dry valleys with shallow fertile red soil (term rossa) stretch down the middle of the island. In places there is sand (Lumbarda) or sandy clay (Blatsko polje). The relief supports the composition of the soil: about 90 percent of the island is hilly, but the hills do not exceed the height of several hundred metres. The highest peak Klupica (568 m) lies almost in the centre of the island between Pupnat and Cara villages. Next come Gradina (554 m), Kom (510 m), and Hum (377 m).
The island shoreline is 182 km long, and the shorelines of the nearby islets another 54 km. Korcula is very indented with a large number of bays and coves. Its north shore is rather low and easily accessible with several natural harbours sheltered from the jugo and easterly winds: Korcula, Banja, Raciste, Vrbovica, Babina, Prigradica. The south shore is more indented but steep in places, with cliffs rising up to 30 m out of the sea in places. There are many anchorages and bays sheltered from the bura but open to the jugo: Zavalatica, Rasohatica, Orlanduga, Pavja luka, Pupnatska luka, Prizba, Karbuni, Grscica etc., and Brna is sheltered from both the bura and the jugo. The largest, best protected bay is Vela Luka in the furthest west of the island.
Approaches
KORCULA
(42° 58'N; 17° 08'E) A town (pop. 3,232 in 1991) and harbour on the NE coast of the island of the same name. The harbour consists of W and E parts. Approach: The city walls and the belfry of the cathedral are conspicuous. Landmarks: the red square tower with a column exhibiting (red light) on the breakwater head in the W harbour and the green round tower with a column and balcony (green light) on the quay in the E harbour.
LUMBARDA
(42° 55'N; 17° 11'E), village (pop. 1,102 in 1991) and small harbour situated on the easternmost part of the island of Korcula.
Approach: The white masonry tower (white light) on Raznjic point, on the E extremity of the island, is conspicuous. Care should be taken to avoid the low-lying Knezic rock E of Tatinja cove and the Bili zal shoal (depth 5 m over it) extending E of Knezic rock.
BRNA
(42° 54'N; 16° 52'E), village (pop. 20 in 1991) in the spacious bay of the same name; harbour for the village of Smokvica (pop. 1,125 in 1991) situated further inland (4 km).
Approach: Landmarks: the round white tower with a column and a balcony (white light) on the wooded Veli zaglav cape and the hotel building. When approaching the harbour from the W, care should be taken to avoid a number of shoals, rocks and islets.
VELA LUKA
(42° 58'N; 16° 43'E), town (pop. 4,464 in 1991) and harbour in the bay of the same name on the W coast of Korcula.
Approach: Landmarks: the white hexagonal masonry tower (white light) on the western extremity of the island of Proizd; the octagonal masonry tower (white light) on Velo dance point and the square masonry tower (red light) on the islet of Kamenjak; the pyramidal stone tower with a red balcony (red light) on Vranac point; the belfries and the chimney of the fish cannery; the white tower with a column and a balcony (green light) on the head of the car-ferry landing place; the white tower (green light) on the W end of the quay in Vela Luka.
Weather
Island Korcula and also whole area of south Dalmatia are characterised by a very favourable climate. The temperature in January lies on an isotherm of 7oC and 8oC, in an area with a distinctive mediterranean climate; a mild, mostly moist winter and a dry, hot and sunny summer. This area is one of the sunniest parts of the central and northern Mediterranean, characterised by an extremely bright sky with about 2701 sunny hours per year, and a high daily average of 7,35 sunny hours per day. In the summer, it rises even to an average of 11,3 hours, 7,4 hours in the spring, 6,3 hours in the autumn, and 4,2 hours in the winter.
This high rate of sunny weather has an influence on the relatively high yearly and daily temperature of the air. A medium January approximate of 7,8o makes this area the warmest part on the Mediterranean northern coast. On island Korčula the temperature very occesionally drops below 0oC; on the other hand, more than a hundred days have a temperature of more than 25oC, and more than fifty days above 30oC. The settlements on the western and southern coast of the island have the hottest climate. So, with some other settlements Karbuni have the hottest climate.
This favourable climate and the flow of warm sea currents have an influence on the high temperature of the sea, with a summer average of 22,6o C, that is, an average yearly approximate of 17,5oC. The local and periodical (seasonal) winds also help to maintain a favourable climate. Among them, the most distinct are the local winds "jugo" (south-east wind) and the "bura" (north-east wind), which show up during the entire year, but especially well marked during the winter, when their bioclimatic activity is at it's peak. In the early spring and summer, the most characteristic wind is the Maestral which has important thermoregulation activity, because as it is a sea wind, it brings a favourable coolness.The Maestral is replaced by the night breeze from the north (burin), which cools the overheated dry land. Also in summer blow some other winds: tramontana (northwest), levant (eastern) and lebic (western), but they are less frequent.
Marinas and Anchorages
KORCULA MARINA
42°57'N / 17°08'E HR - 20260 Korcula. Tel: 00 385 20 711 661 Fax: 00 385 20 711 748 VHF canal 17.
From the SE the marina is protected by a breakwater (green tower with a column and a balcony exhibiting a green light on its head).
Capacity: 200 sea-berths (four-point moor) are laid out alongside the waterfront, the pier and the breakwater. About 50 dry-berths are available. The depth is about 3 m along the waterfront and up to 10 m alongside the breakwater.
The marina operates all year round.
Facilities
- Reception;
- exchange office;
- restaurant;
- toilets and showers;
- laundry service;
- grocery shop;
- repair shop;
- 10 t crane, parking lot.
- The gas station is approximately 0.5 miles east of the harbour, by the ferry pier.
- There is also a permanent maritime border crossing.
- The marina has also 11 high standard apartments.
LUMBARDA MARINA
It is situated in Lumbarda cove (depths 57 m at the entrance; fixed mark, 1.6 m).
There are about 170 sea-berths (yachts 535 m, depths 6-2 m) and 40 dry-berths (514 m).
Facilities
- reception office;
- restaurant;
- hotel;
- supermarket, dutyfree shop;
- slipway, mechanical work;
- charter fleet.
KORCULA
(42° 58'N; 17° 08'E), harbour on the NE coast of the island of the same name. The harbour consists of W and E parts. Mooring: The W harbour affords shelter from winds blowing from the SE and SW quadrants. North-westerlies raise a sea in this harbour and it is advisable to shift to the E harbour or to Luka cove, when such winds start blowing; mooring for yachts are laid out alongside the S waterfront below the fortress walls (depths 34 m). The E harbour is protected from winds blowing from the SW and NW quadrants; mooring for yachts are also available alongside the quay (depths 46.7 m), S of the harbour light.
Warning: Underwater power cables cross the channel between the coves E and W of the town and Peljesac Peninsula and anchorage is prohibited in these areas.
The harbour is open to international traffic as a permanent port of entry.
Facilities
- Harbour master's branch office;
- medical service;
- chemist's;
- post office;
- head-office of Mediteranska plovidba shipping line;
- Inkobrod shipyard;
- Kanjac Fishing Club and Korcula Sailing Club.
Provisions at shops, water from the main. Fuel at the pump in the E harbour. Navigation charts and relevant publications at the office PLOVPUT Plovno podrucje Dubrovnik ispostava Korcula (Zapadna obala bb.)
LUMBARDA
(42° 55'N; 17° 11'E) small harbour situated on the easternmost part of the island of Korcula.
Mooring: In the marina. There are more anchorages. Bufalo cove (depth about 14 m) affords protection from all winds but is open to waves from the sirocco. Tatinja cove is open to winds blowing from the NE quadrant.
Facilities
- Post office;
- medical service;
- chemist's;
- self-service store;
- Provisions and water.
Berba naranaca (Orange-picking festival) is held in February.
