News Feature
'New islands' to rise from Croatian sea
24 January 2008
Two of Croatia's most beautiful areas look set to grow bigger, thanks to the wonders of nature.
Scientists have discovered a fault line running under the Adriatic, which they say is "actively building" more of the Dalmatian islands and Dinaride mountains.
Geologists had previously believed the two stopped growing around 20 to 30 million years ago.
Originating in an area to the north-west of Dubrovnik, the newly-discovered fault runs for over a hundred miles under the sea floor.
The University of Arizona's Richard Bennett explained that two plates are scraping against each other under the earth, with Italy's "boot heel" moving towards the Croatian coast at a rate of around 0.16 inches every year.
"It's a collision zone - two continents are colliding and building mountains," remarked the researcher, adding that this has implications for Italy, Montenegro and Albania as well as Croatia.
Mr Bennet and his Croatian colleagues compared the phenomenon to the blade of a moving snowplough piling up snow in front of it.
Any new islands that emerge from the development will add to a burgeoning tourist mecca, with World Heritage site Dubrovnik already dubbed "the pearl of the Adriatic".
Category: Istria, Kvarner and North-West & Northern Dalmatia and the islands & Southern Dalmatia, Korcula and Peljesac & Dubrovnik & Other destinations
Latest News
