Iž

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Iž is a Croatian island in the Zadar Archipelago in the Adriatic Sea. It belongs to Zadar County and lies between the islands of Ugljan to the northeast and Dugi Otok to the southwest. The closest island to Iž is Rava, across the Iški canal.

Geography and nature
Iž covers about 17.6 square kilometers (12.2 km long and about 2.5 km wide). The highest point is Korinjak, at 168 meters. The coast stretches around 35 kilometers. The island sits in a northwest–southeast orientation, with limestone and dolomite rocks. Soils are mostly terra rossa and sandy on dolomites. About 60% of Iž is covered by pine forests, and olives, vines and figs are traditional crops. The island has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters; average temperature is around 15°C. Common winds are bora, sirocco, and maestral.

History and culture
People have lived on Iž since prehistoric times. The island has a strong Glagolitic heritage, with a history of 11th‑century St. Mary church in Mali Iž and long traditions of parish life in both Veli Iž and Mali Iž. It was part of the Venetian Republic from 1409. The 18th and 19th centuries saw Iž as a leading maritime and trade center in the area. A Glagolitic inscription from 1685 was found on a house in 2019, among the newer discoveries of Glagolitic texts on the island. The island’s crafts include a long pottery tradition, preserved in local museums and collections.

Villages and notable sights
The main settlement is Veli Iž, located in a bay on the island’s northeastern coast. Mali Iž lies on the southeastern coast and includes Muće, Makovac and Porovac on three hills, with two bays nearby (Knež and Komoševa). The oldest cultural monument is the 11th‑century Church of St. Mary near Mali Iž. The parish churches in both settlements have a thousand‑year Glagolitic history.

Economy and lifestyle
Most residents engage in olive cultivation, fishing, viticulture and, increasingly, tourism. Iž is known for its traditional pottery. The island’s economy is complemented by olive groves, vineyards and fig trees. Tourism is supported by the Korinjak Hotel, a notable vegetarian hotel in Veli Iž that offers wellness and relaxation programs, boat trips and visits to hidden coves. The island has a marina that can host up to about 200 boats.

Events
A traditional festival called Iška fešta (The Fest of Iž) is held every year on July 29 in Veli Iž. Locals wear traditional costumes, perform folk dances and songs, and crown the “King of Iž” for a one-year term.

Access and transport
A road linking Mali Iž and Veli Iž was built mainly in the 1980s and completed in 1996, connecting the settlements and the ferry port area. Iž is connected to Zadar and to Rava by passenger ships, high‑speed craft and car ferries. Passenger routes run from Zadar to Mali Iž (Komoseva) and Veli Iž, then proceed to Rava. A car ferry runs from Gaženica (near Zadar) to Bršanj in Mali Iž and, on certain days, to Rava and Mala Rava. A bus connects Veli Iž and Mali Iž to Bršanj when ferries dock. Since 2014, ferries use Gaženica as the main port near Zadar. The shortest route to Iž crosses the Mali Ždrelac channel; a larger opening in 2012 allowed bigger ships. Before World War II, most traffic went through Ugljan; since the 1980s, traffic has also used Mali Ždrelac. The island has a small ferry terminal in Bršanj, with passenger services operating mainly to Mali Iž and Veli Iž and through to Rava.

Notable people
Krsto Novaselić, the father of Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic, lived in Veli Iž before moving to the United States.