Dubrovnik-Neretva County

Dubrovnik-Neretva County Dubrovačko-neretvanska županija
—  County  —
Flag Coat of arms
Dubrovnik-Neretva County (light orange) within Croatia (light yellow)
County seat	Dubrovnik
Government
- Župan	Nikola Dobroslavić ((HDZ))
Area
- Total	1,782 km2 (688 sq mi)
Population (2001)
- Total	122,870
- Density	69/km2 (178.6/sq mi)
Area code	020
ISO 3166 code	HR-19
Website	edubrovnik.org

The Dubrovnik–Neretva County (Croatian: Dubrovačko-neretvanska županija) is the southernmost Croatian county located in south Dalmatia. The county seat is Dubrovnik and other large towns are Korčula, Metković, Opuzen and Ploče. The Municipality of Neum, which belongs to neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, divides the county in two parts.

The southern part of the county consists of Dubrovnik and the surrounding area, including the Pelješac peninsula, the islands of Korčula, Lastovo, Mljet, Šipan, Lopud and Koločep. The northern part of the county includes the Neretva river delta as well as the Baćina lakes north of Ploče, as well as a swath of hinterland near the southernmost slopes of Biokovo and around the hill of Rujnica.

Although the 9 kilometres-long stretch of coast belonging to Neum effectively makes the southern part of the county an exclave (disconnecting it from mainland Croatia) it is still connected with the rest of the country via territorial waters. Road traffic going to and from Dubrovnik through Neum is usually less subject to customs controls in order to reduce the traffic congestion. The road connecting Dubrovnik to the rest of the country via Neum has one lane per direction and bus lines passing through Neum often make rest stops there so that passengers can take advantage of lower Bosnian taxes and purchase tobacco and alcoholic beverages as they tend to be cheaper there.

The Croatian and Bosnian governments are planning to build an expressway that would connect Dubrovnik through the Neum municipality and wouldn't require any border control. The regional government of this county is also planning to build a sea bridge that would directly connect the southern tip of the northern part of the county with to the Pelješac peninsula (the Pelješac bridge), thereby linking the southern part of the county as well.

The northern part of the Mljet island is a national park. The Lastovo archipelago is a designated nature park. The southernmost tip of the county is the demilitarized Prevlaka peninsula at the border with Montenegro.

Basic facts

• Area: 1 782 km²
• Inhabitants According to the 2001 census, Dubrovnik-Neretva County has population of 122,870. Croats make up an absolute majority with 93.29% of the population.[1]

Administrative division

On the local level, the Dubrovnik–Neretva county is further subdivided into 5 cities (Grad) and 17 municipalities (Općina):

• City of Dubrovnik (county seat)
• City of Korčula
• City of Metković
• City of Opuzen
• City of Ploče
• Municipality of Blato
• Municipality of Dubrovačko Primorje
• Municipality of Janjina
• Municipality of Konavle
• Municipality of Kula Norinska
• Municipality of Lastovo
• Municipality of Lumbarda
• Municipality of Mljet
• Municipality of Orebić
• Municipality of Pojezerje
• Municipality of Slivno
• Municipality of Smokvica
• Municipality of Ston
• Municipality of Trpanj
• Municipality of Vela Luka
• Municipality of Zažablje
• Municipality of Župa Dubrovačka

County government

Current leadership:

• Župan (prefect): Nikola Dobroslavić (HDZ)
• Deputy župan:
• Deputy župan:

The county assembly is composed of 41 representatives, and composed as follows:

• HDZ-HSS-HSLS-HSU: 21
  • Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)
  • Croatian Peasant Party (HSS)
  • Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS)
  • Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU)
• SDP-HNS: 9
  • Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP)
  • Croatian People's Party (HNS)
• Independent list - Stipe Gabrić Jambo 8
• Independent list - Pero Vićan 3

Based on election results in 2009.

Protected areas

• Mljet National Park
• Lastovo archipelago nature park

External links

• http://www.edubrovnik.org/

Coordinates: 42°39′13″N 18°05′41″E / 42.65361°N 18.09472°E / 42.65361; 18.09472