Imotski
Imotski | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Town of Imotski Grad Imotski | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Country | Croatia |
| County | Split-Dalmatia County |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Area code | 021 |
| Website | imotski.hr |
Imotski is a small town situated on the northern side of Biokovo massif, Dalmatian hinterland, Croatia. The town was first mentioned as Imotski for the first time in the 10th century and it was held by the Turks from the fall of Bosnia (1492) until 1717 when it was captured by the Venetians.[1] The town population is 4,347 while the total municipal population is 10,213 (2001). The town is located close to the border with Bosnia-Herzegovina, by the town of Posušje. The nearest coastal town is Makarska.
Imotski is known for its medieval fortress on the rocks of Blue Lake. Another phenomenon is the Red Lake which looks like the eye in the scenery. Both lakes are said to be connected with underground channels to the Adriatic Sea. Unlike other towns in the area, Imotski had an educational system which consisted of primary and secondary schools from as early as the beginning of the 20th century. The secondary school was founded in 1912 when Imotski was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Imotski has a very mild and pleasant climate with many sunny days.
History
From 1941 to 1945 Imotski was part of the Independent State of Croatia. In April, 1944 German forces shot down three American B-24s. The local population saved as many of the American personnel as they could. In 2008, the city decided to raise a memorial to the deceased soldiers. Among one of the soldiers that was rescued was a Marion Dropulich (Marijan Dropuljic'). A man born and raised in Pennsylvania, USA. Marijan's father was a Joseph Dropulich (Josip Dropuljic')from Prolozac Gornji originally and went to America in 1910. Prolozac Gornji is only a few km from Imotski.
Climate
The climate is Mediterranean, very pleasant, with the highest air temperature averaging 26 °C (79 °F) during July and lowest averaging 5 °C (41 °F), in January. Summers are usually very hot during the day.
Temperatures above 10 °C (50 °F) last for more than 240 days a year.
There are two different kinds of winds are here - the bora is bringing cold and clear weather from the north in winters, and the southern jugo (jug=south) bringing rain in summer.
Notable people
The settlement's most famous son is Zvonimir Boban, the captain of the Croatian national football team which finished third at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. There is also a famous writer Tin Ujevic. The city itself is home to Croatian league football club NK Imotski. There are other individuals born in Imotski to have made their names known outside of the local region. In the world of entertainment, there is singer Neda Ukraden and film director Antun Vrdoljak. Sports starts include female tennis player Silvija Talaja and footballer Tomislav Bušić. Father of former Canada national men's ice hockey team captain Joe Sakic, Marijan Šakić, is from Imotski. The famous boxer Mate Parlov was born near Imotski in the village of Ričice, and a famous fighter for Croatian independence Zvonko Bušić is also from Imotski. Veljko Kadijević, Minister of Defence in the Yugoslav government from 1988 to 1992, was born in Glavina Donja, near Imotski, but now lives in Moscow, Russia.Croatian hajduk Ivan Bušić Roša.
References
- ^ Naklada Naprijed, The Croatian Adriatic Tourist Guide, pg. 308, Zagreb (1999), ISBN 953-178-097-8
External links
Subdivisions of Split-Dalmatia County | ||
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