Lavdara

Lavdara (also Vela Lavdara, to distinguish it from Mala Lavdara ) is a Croatian island. The name derives from the Latin word lapidary ( stone lapis = ) ago. The limestone of the island was also removed in antiquity, the Middle Ages, it was used for the construction of parts of the old town of Zadar.

Lavdara is about 3.7 km long and has an average width of 600 m, the area is 2.2 square kilometers, the coastline length of 9.2 km. The island is located at the southeast end of the island of Dugi Otok east of Sali. It is of a number of smaller islands ( Rava, Tukošćak, Mrtonjak, Mala Lavdara, Glavoć, Zut ) surrounded and is not inhabited continuously.

The island is a mountain ridge with three peaks: Zmorašnji Mali Vrh (67 m), Južni Mali Vrh (66 m) as the highest Veli Vrh (87 m). On the island, the 25 to 30 m deep cave Vela Jama is ( big cave ), which was rediscovered in 1975; In the past, the cave was used by shepherds as a refuge.

Until the Second World War was operated on Lavdara livestock, fruit and wine, of which an abandoned farm testifies. Today there are on the island about 20 cottages, which are partly used for tourism.