Vis (island)

Infobox Islands
name = Vis


image caption = Vinyards on Vis
image size = 300px
locator

native name =
native name link = Croatian
nickname =
location = Adriatic sea
coordinates = coord|43|02|N|16|09|E|display=inline,title
archipelago =
total islands =
major islands =
area = 89.72 km²
highest mount = Hum
elevation = 587 m
country = Croatia
country admin divisions title = County
country admin divisions = Split-Dalmatia
country admin divisions title 1 =
country admin divisions 1 =
country admin divisions title 2 =
country admin divisions 2 =
country capital city =
country largest city = Vis
country largest city population = 1,960
country leader title =
country leader name =
population = 3,617
population as of = 2001
density = 40
ethnic groups =
additional info =

Vis [IPA|ˈʋiːs] (Greek : "Issa"), is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, the furthest inhabited island. Its area is 90.26 km²,hr icon [http://peljar.cvs.hr/show_place_info.php?id=483 First Croatian online peljar] ] and it has a population of 3,617 (as of 2001). [http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/ljetopis/2005/00-sadrzaj.pdf Statistical yearbook for 2006 of Central bureau of statistics of Republic of Croatia] ] The highest peak of Vis is called Hum, 587 m high.

There are two towns and municipalities on the island, Vis (1,960 hr icon [http://vis.20megsfree.com/ Article at site dedicated to Vis and Komiža] ] inhabitants in the municipality) and Komiža (1,677 hr icon [http://www.tz-komiza.hr/hr/komiza.php Article at official Komiža site] ] , both located on the seacoast. There are smaller settlements on the island's interior: Podselje, Marinje zemlje, Podšpilje, and Podstražje. [http://www.tz-vis.hr/eng/info.htm General information on Vis] ]

History

Vis was inhabited by the time of the Neolithic period. In the 4th century B.C., the tyrant of Siracuse, Dionisius the Older, founded the colony "Issa" on the island. Later, it became an independent city-state, and even minted its own money and founded its own colonies elsewhere. In the first century B.C., the island was held by the Liburnians, a Venetic [Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992,ISBN 0631198075,page 183,"... We may begin with the Venetic peoples, Veneti, Carni, Histri and Liburni, whose language set them apart from the rest of the Illyrians. ..."] tribe.Queen Teuta originated from the island.

A part of the Byzantine Theme of Dalmatia, in 925 Croatian Monarch Tomislav took over administration over the island of "Ies". After the death of Croatian ruler Kresimir, a war of succession erupted and the Narentines under Serbian Prince Časlav Klonimirović took the island by 948, however they managed to rule it for only a short period, as the Byzantines restored control. Brothers of Serbian ruler Stefan Nemanja Miroslav and Stracimir made raids on Vis in 1184 and 1185.

In the Middle Ages it often changed rulers, and then for a long time it was under Venice, which founded the main settlement, named "Velo Selo". During Venetian and Austrian domination, the island's official name was "Lissa".

Later, the larger settlements also developed on the coast (Komiza and Luka of St. Juraj, the- present town of Vis). Administratively the island of Vis was for centuries bound to the island of Hvar.

The sea to the north of the island was the stage of two battles:
*on 13 March 1811, a small Royal Navy fleet, under the command of Captain William Hoste, defeated a larger Franco-Venetian fleet (see Battle of Lissa (1811));
*on 20 July 1866, the Austrian fleet, under Admiral Tegetthoff, attacked the Italian fleet, under Admiral Persano, sinking the battleship "Re d'Italia" (see Battle of Lissa (1866)).

During World War II, Vis was at one point the main hideout of Josip Broz Tito, the leader of the Yugoslav resistance movement. After the war, the Yugoslav People's Army used the island as one of its main naval bases. After Croatia became independent, its navy did not reclaim most of the facilities, and the many abandoned buildings are being used for civilian purposes, including modern happenings.

Economy

Main industries on the island are agriculture (mainly viticulture), fishing, fish refinement and tourism.

Around 20% of arable land on the island is covered with vineyards. Autochthonous vine species cultivated on the island are Plavac Mali, Kurteloška and Bugava. [http://www.tz-vis.hr/eng/economy.htm Economy of Vis] ]

The sea around Vis is rich with fish, especially blue fish (sardine, mackerel and anchovy). Komiža fishermen of the 17th century developed their own type of fishing boat, the Falkuša which was used even in the second half of the 20th century because of its excellent features.

References

External links

* [http://www.arch-ant.bham.ac.uk/bufau/research/aip/aip.htm#vis Adriatic Islands Project:] Contact, commerce and colonisation 6000 BC - AD 600
* [http://www.tz-vis.hr/ Vis Tourist Association]
* [http://www.croatia.hr/English/Destinacije/Destinacija.aspx?idDestination=190 Vis - Croatian National Tourist Board]
* [http://www.tz-komiza.hr/ Komiza - Island Vis Tourist Association]
* [http://www.croatiatraveller.com/central%20dalmatia/Vis%20Island.htm Vis Island Guide]
* [http://www.lifejacketadventures.com/stories/pdfs/falkusa_kayaks.pdf Old Salts:] Story about Dalmatian fishermen and their falkuse.