Location Adriatic Sea Highest elevation 94 m (308 ft) County Split | Total islands 16 Highest point Vela glava Area 7.165 km² | |
Major islands Sveti Klement, Marinkovac Points of interest Pakleni Otoci, Sveti Klement, Jerolim Islands Jerolim, Sveti Klement, Marinkovac, Pokonji Dol Similar Dubovica, Palmižana, Sveti Klement, Hvar, Šćedro | ||
The Pakleni ([pǎklɛniː]) or Paklinski ([pâkliːnskiː]) islands are located off the southwest coast of the island of Hvar, Croatia, opposite the entrance to the Hvar (city) harbour. The name is popularly translated as Hells' islands (pakleni: hellish), but it originally derives from paklina, an archaic word, from which pakleni too is derived, that means "tar", and in this case refers to the pine resin once used to coat ships that was harvested on these islands.
Contents
Map of Paklinski otoci, Croatia
Overview
The islands are (from west to east):
The main island of Sveti Klement is also called Veliki otok or Big island. It has 3 settlements, Palmižana, Momica Polje and Vlaka. There is a large, well protected yacht marina at Palmižana.
The chain of islands is approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long, formed of limestone, with a very indented coastline and low pine forest with black pine, and aleppo pine. The highest point on the islands is 94 metres (308 ft). The islands are a popular destination for visitors with smaller craft, especially yachts, providing numerous peaceful coves for diving, underwater fishing, swimming and water sports.