Lastovo Island

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General

Lastovo is a small island ( Italian: Lagosta ) at Adriatic Sea in Croatia. The island has an area of only 46 square kilometre and a population of just under 1300 people. Additional area of 56 square kilometres includes Lastovo Archipelago which consist of 46 additional small islands dotted around Lastovo coast. The highest peak on Lastovo is the hill Hum with an altitude of 417 metres.

Island of Lastovo is becoming more popular among the travelers as this Island is one of the last untouched areas of Mediterranean. Because of it's preserved natural beauty, Lastovo will soon become Nature Park of Croatia.

Lastovo is located south of Korcula Island. It is connected with Croatian mainland by daily ferries and catamaran.

The island spreads over 50 square kilometers. Its dolomitic valleys are located between limy hills and they often contain layers of red soil and quartz sand. The valleys are often surrounded by mild calcareous slopes rich in caves. The coast-line is mainly steep and the surrounding sea is deep. Although the covers are sparse, yet the island has two deep bays. One of them, Skrivena luka (sheltered port), is situated on the southern part of Lastovo, between the cape of Strizevo and the cape of Veljo more (great sea). Here the sea has made a deep cut into the land. The other bay formed by Veli Lago and Mali Lago connected by a narrow passage - Most (bridge) is located between Prizba and the village of Lastovo. Lastovo is the Adriatic island richest in natural forests. Particularly various and lively is its underwater life. There are no richer fishing areas in the Adriatic than those of Lastovo, especially where small bluefish, lobsters and many kinds of high-priced food fish like John Dory and Grooper are concerned. On the island poisonous snakes simply don’t exists.

Approaches

MALI LAGO

(42° 46,5'N; 16° 50'E), small bay between the W coast of Lastovo and Prezba island. Approach: Zrvanj point on the small cone-shaped peninsula on the E side of the entrance and the islet of Maslovnjak veli N of it are easily identified from seaward. Approach should be made between the islet of Maslovnjak veli and Zrvanj point because of the Karlovica tovari and Hljeb rocks situated between the islets of Maslovnjak veli and Maslovnjak mali.

VELJI LAGO

(42° 45'N; 16° 49'E), spacious bay and harbour on the W coast of Lastovo. The village of Ubli (pop. 303 in 1991) is situated in the SE part of the bay.

Approach: Landmarks: approaching from the W: the islet of Kopiste, the hills Hun (417 m) and Plesevo (415 m), the islets of Bratin and Vlasnik. On the S side of the entrance is Cuf point and on the N side Kremene point a white concrete tower with a column and a balcony (sector light); a red tower with a column and a balcony (red light) is situated on the wharf at Ubli (SE part of the bay).

SKRIVENA LUKA

(PORTORUS local name) (42° 44'N; 16° 53'E), village (pop. 20 in 1991) and cove on the S coast of Lastovo. Approach: Landmarks: the round masonry tower above a dwelling on Struga cape and the red iron tower with a column and a balcony (red light) on Strazica point (at the entrance to the cove). Approaching from the W, care should be taken to avoid the rocky shoal W of Velje more point.

Weather

Lastovo possesses all the basic characteristics of the Mediterranean climate dominated by mild, moist winters and warm, long and dry summers. The average annual temperature of the island is ca. 15C, while the average annual rainfall is 687 mm. The air moisture of the island is ca. 70% only in July and August falls to 65%. The dominant winds are Jugo (warm, moist and steady) and maestral (NW direction).

Marinas and Anchorages

MALI LAGO

(42° 46,5'N; 16° 50'E), small bay between the W coast of Lastovo and Prezba island.

Mooring: The cove is sheltered from all winds. Good anchorage for larger yachts S of Zrvanj point (depths 3840 m). Smaller vessels can anchor at the head of the cove (depths 1416 m).

Facilities

• Limited provisions in the passage Most (Pasadur) or in the harbour of Ubli

VELJI LAGO

42° 45'N; 16° 49'E Warning: In order to avoid the rocky shoals N of Cuf point yachts should approach on the aligment: Kremena point (white tower) and the SE extremity of Makarac islet. By night the fairway lies within the white sectors of the light on Kremena point.

Navigation is prohibited in the small cove of Jurjeva luka (the islet of Prezba).

Mooring: Kremena cove on the SE coast of Prezba island is sheltered from all winds. Smaller yachts can moor along the wharf in the harbour of Ubli (depths 4.56 m) in the SE part of the cove or in front of the Solitudo hotel (depths 1.52 m). They can also anchor in Kremena cove.

Facilities

• Harbour master's branch office in Ubli.
• Provisions, water and fuel (on the agricultural estate).

Sights: Remains of Roman and early medieval buildings, foundations of an early Christian basilica (5/6 C), sarcophagi and foundations of farm buildings. Lastovo (the largest village on the island, pop. 734 in 1991): ruins of the Romanesque Sv Ivan church (St John), of Sv Kuzma i Damjan church (St Cosmas and Damian, built in 1473, reconstructed in the 16 C, with collection of liturgical items); Loggia; defence wall (early 17 C), Sv Vlaho church (St Blaise, reconstructed in the 14 C). Folklore and carnival celebrations 10 km by road.

SKRIVENA LUKA

(42° 44'N; 16° 53'E), village (pop. 20 in 1991) and cove on the S coast of Lastovo.

Mooring: The cove is sheltered from all winds and suitable for longer stays. The best anchorage in a sirocco is in front of the cove entrance. In a bora yachts are recommended to anchor between the entrance and Uska rock (0.5 M of the entrance to Skrivena luka cove). A good anchorage for smaller yachts is in the inner part of the cove (depth up to 15 m).

Facilities

• Limited provisions and water.