Mljet Island Croatia (Sobra)

Mljet Island is the easternmost and southernmost of Croatia's larger islands located close to Dalmatian Coast (Adriatic Sea). The island has total area approx 98 km2 (38 mi2) and population over 1100.

The island is served by Cilipi Airport (approx 16 km / 10 mi from Dubrovnik) and also car-ferries from Dubrovnik (Gruz neighborhood) and Ston (Peljesac Peninsula). Ferry services are provided by Jadrolinija (state-owned Croatian passenger shipping company). The service is to and from Mljet Island's largest (principal) port Sobra. In addition to the car-ferries, these routes are also operated with faster catamarans (passenger-only ferries)

Mljet National Park covers island's entire northwest part, and also includes Soline Bay and two lakes ("Malo" and "Veliko"). The lakes ("small" and "large") stretch for approx 4 km (2,5 mi). In the middle of Veliko is the small Melita Island (Sveta Marija) best-known for its Abbey (12th-century Benedictine monastery, now restaurant). In an attempt to ease their shipping transport, the monks dug a channel from the large lake to Melita's south coast, thus filling two fresh-water lakes with seawater.

In early-20th century, mongooses (small feliform carnivorans native to Asia and Africa) were introduced on Mljet Island in order to reduce the large population of poisonous snakes. However, after the mongooses completed the task, they also killed much of island's birdlife.

Mljet Island Croatia cruise terminal