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Rab
RAB, an island in the northern Adriatic, between the islands of
Krk and Pag; area 93.6 sq km; population 9,205 (length 22 km). It
consists mainly of limestone forming two elevated plains; the peak
Kamenjak (408 m) rises in the northeast, and Kalifront (92 m) in
the southwest. The Lopar peninsula is situated to the northeast,
between the Lopar Bay and the Crnika Bay. Apart from the Lopar Bay,
other larger bays include Supetarska Draga, Kamporska Draga, the
Bay of St. Fumia (Euphemia). Rab has mild winters (an average air
temperature in January is 6.7 °C) and hot summers (an average air
temperature in July reaches 23.2 °C); a mean annual temperature
is 15.3 °C; the annual rainfall is around 1,000 mm. With 2,499 hours
of sunshine a year, Rab ranks among the sunniest parts of Europe.
The sea temperature in summer reaches up to 24 °C and in winter
up to 10 °C. The limestone parts of the island, particularly Kalifront,
are partly covered with underbrush and the forest of the Mediterranean
oak, but cedar, mulberry and several pine species are also found
there. In the interior, arable part of the island, olives, vines
and vegetable are cultivated. - Hunting opportunities (pheasant,
hare, rabbit and marten). Apart from the town of Rab, there are
seven other villages: Lopar, Mundanija, Supetarska Draga, Kampor,
Banjol, Palit and Barbat. There is a ferry line with the mainland
(Jablanac - Misnjak and Senj - Lopar). - Traditional costumes have
been almost completely lost, and of the traditional customs, only
the traditional wedding ceremony has survived. Folk dances include
"our dance of ring", "merezinka" and "mahlina".
- Fishing used to be very important but tourism is the chief occupation
of the present.
Rab (in the ancient time called Arba, in the Middle Ages Arbe,
Arbia, Arbiana, Arbitana, Arbium); the name Rab appeared in the
15th century. In the prehistoric times inhabited by the Illyrian
Liburnians. First mentioned in 360 BC. Occupied by the Romans in
the 2nd century BC, to become a Roman colony in 155 BC. Under the
rule of Emperor August, the town of Arba was already a municipality,
protected by a town wall and towers. Romans built numerous country
villas and naval bases (stationes navales). From the migration of
the peoples Rab was first under the Byzantine rule, from the 9th
century to 1409 (with minor interruptions) under the Croatian sovereignty,
and after that, until 1797, under the rule of Venice. After a short
period of Austrian rule the island became part of the Napoleon's
Illyrian Provinces in 1805; it was included into Austrian territories
from 1814 to 1918, when it was occupied by Italy. According to the
Treaty of Rapallo (1920), it was returned to the parent country.
In April 1941 Rab was occupied by Italian troops, and after the
capitulation of Italy, by the German army; in 1945 it was annexed
to the mother country Croatia. - The plague of the 1449 and 1456
devastated the island and largely reduced the island's population,
so that life stagnated all to the beginning of the 20th century,
when tourism started to develop.
Major harbours, marinas and small ports: the port of Rab, Nautical
Centre Rab (ACI), Sveta Mara, Kamporska Draga, Supetarska Draga,
Nautical Centre Supetarska Draga (ACI) and Lopar. The main road
(M29) runs through the island from the ferry port in the Lopar Bay
(Senj - Baska on Krk - Lopar) in the north to the ferry port Misnjak
(Jablanac - Misnjak) in the south.
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