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 Murter
An island in the north-western part of the Sibenik
archipelago; area 18.6 sq km (length 11 km, width up to 2.8 km);
population 5,192. The island is separated from the mainland by the
narrow Murter channel. In the north-west there are fertile Quaternary
deposits (sandy soils). The highest peak is Raduc (125 m). The limestone
part of the island is covered with sparse vegetation. The mostly
steep south-western coast is indented by smaller coves; the cove
of Kosirina is used as a dock for smaller vessels during the bora.
A beach, a restaurant and a campsite are located in the cove of
Slanica. On the north-eastern coast are favourable docks for larger
vessels (the cove of Jezera and the port of Tisno). The villages
of Murter (with Hramina) and Betina developed in the north-west
of the island, around a sandy field with numerous wells. Tisno lies
in the narrowest part of the Murter channel; over the strait is
a 37.5-m long drawbridge. Chief occupations are farming, growing
of olives, fruit and vegetables, livestock breeding and fishing.
The regional road runs throughout the island. The earliest inhabitants
of the island were the Illyrians (remains of the Illyrian-Roman
settlement of Collentum near Betina). In the Middle Ages the island
was called Srimac; the name Insula Mortarii was also mentioned.
In the 13th century there were two villages on the island, Veliko
Selo (Big Village) (today's Murter) and Jezera (Lakes); Betina and
Tisno developed most probably during the Turkish invasions.
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