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 Lastovo
An island in the southern Dalmatian archipelago,
13 km south of the island of Korcula, separated from it by the Lastovo
channel; area 40.9 sq km (length 9.8 km, width up to 5.8 km); population
1,228. It stretches in the direction east - west. Between numerous
hills on the island (the highest peak is Hum, 417 m) are karst valleys
and fields. On the southern coast is a large and deep bay, which
provides safe shelter during the bora and westerly winds. On the
eastern side of the bay is the place called Skrivena Luka (Hidden
Harbour), with a low, sand coast. The western coast of Lastovo and
the eastern coast of the islet of Prezba enclose a number of picturesque
coves, well protected from the bora: Velo Jezero in the south and
Malo Jezero in the north. Winters are very mild; an average air
temperature in January is 8.3 °C, in July 23.9 °C and in
August 24.9 °C. The annual rainfall is 650 mm and during the
summer months only 53 mm. Summer heat is moderated by landward breeze.
There are no permanent surface water streams on the island; potable
water is found in the Prgovo field. The narrow coastal belt is dominated
by rocky ground, but the interior of the island is under the forests
of Scots pine and Mediterranean underbrush. The regional road connects
the largest place called Lastovo with the village of Ubli on the
south-western coast. Chief occupations include farming, growing
of vines, olives and fruit, seafaring, fishing and fish processing.
Regular ferry lines connect the island with Split, Vela Luka and
Hvar.
West of the island of Lastovo is an unpopulated islet of Kopiste,
largely covered with forests. The north-western coast, with a large
bay which branches into several coves, is a pier for small fishing
ships. Sheltered coves have nice sand beaches. In front of the north-eastern
coast of the island of Lastovo is a group of unpopulated islets
and reefs - Donji Skoljic. Major islets are Cesvinica, Krucica (with
the highest peak of the entire group, 83 m), Saplun and Stomorina.
Elevations are covered with underbrush and woods. Saplun has beautiful
sand beaches. East of Donji Skolji is another group of unpopulated
islets and reefs - Vrhovnjaci, comprising the islets Sestrice (Little
Sisters), Vlasnik and Glavat (lighthouse). West of Lastovo is the
islet of Mrcara (area about 2 sq km); its highest peak is 121 m
above sea level. The Mali Brod (Small Boat) strait divides it from
the neighbouring island of Prezba. The sea around Mrcara abounds
with spiny lobsters.
Lastovo was mentioned as early as during the Greek colonization
of the Adriatic, under the name of Ladesta. The cove of Ubli features
the remains of Roman buildings and several structures from the early
Middle Ages. At that time the island was under the Byzantine rule
and in the 9th century it came under the Nerentani (Narentini).
In AD 998 it was taken by the Venetians; in the 11th and the 12th
centuries it belonged to Zahumlje (the pre-Roman-esque church of
St. Luke near Lastovo dates back to those times); in 1185 it fell
under the power of the Hungarian-Croatian kings; in 1221 it was
again under Zahumlje, and in 1252 came under Dubro-vnik (in 1310
Lastovo got its communal autonomy and the Statute). In the period
1808-1813 Lastovo was occupied by France, from 1813 to 1815 it belonged
to the British and from 1815 to 1918 to Austria. Under the Treaty
of Rapallo, Lastovo (together with the neighbouring islands) was
ceded to Italy. After the Second World War the island passed to
the mother country Croatia.
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