Imotski
Encyclopedia
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
. 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.
. 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 Dropuljić). A man born and raised in Pennsylvania, USA. Marijan's father was a Joseph Dropulich (Josip Dropuljić)from Prolozac Gornji originally and went to America in 1910. Prolozac Gornji is only a few km from Imotski.
is Mediterranean
, very pleasant, with the highest air temperature
averaging 26 °C (78.8 °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.
, the captain of the Croatian national football team
which finished third at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
. Žarko Domljan
the first Speaker of the Croatian Parliament was born in Imotski. There is also a famous poet Tin Ujević
. 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.
Biokovo
Biokovo is the second-highest mountain range in Croatia, located along the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea, between the rivers of Cetina and Neretva...
massif, Dalmatian hinterland, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. The town was first mentioned as Imotski for the first time in the 10th century and it was held by the Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
from the fall of Bosnia (1492) until 1717 when it was captured by the Venetians
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. 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
Posušje
Posušje is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in the West Herzegovina Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity.-Name:...
. The nearest coastal town is Makarska
Makarska
Makarska is a small town on the Adriatic coastline of Croatia, about southeast of Split and northwest of Dubrovnik. It has a population of 13,716 residents. Administratively Makarska has the status of a town and it is part of the Split-Dalmatia County....
.
Imotski is known for its medieval fortress on the rocks of Blue Lake
Blue Lake (Croatia)
Blue Lake is a karst lake located near Imotski in southern Croatia. Like the nearby Red Lake, it lies in a deep sinkhole possibly formed by the collapse of an enormous underground cave. The total depth from the upper rim is around 220 meters, while water depth varies with season...
. Another phenomenon is the Red Lake
Crveno Jezero
Red Lake is a sinkhole containing a karst lake near the city of Imotski, Croatia. It is known for its numerous caves and remarkably high cliffs, reaching over 241 metres above normal water level and continuing below the water level...
which looks like the eye in the scenery. Both lakes are said to be connected with underground channels to the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
. 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 CroatiaIndependent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
. 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 Dropuljić). A man born and raised in Pennsylvania, USA. Marijan's father was a Joseph Dropulich (Josip Dropuljić)from Prolozac Gornji originally and went to America in 1910. Prolozac Gornji is only a few km from Imotski.
Climate
The climateClimate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
is Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
, very pleasant, with the highest air temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
averaging 26 °C (78.8 °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
Bora (wind)
Bora or Bura is a northern to north-eastern katabatic wind in the Adriatic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Italy, Greece, Slovenia, and Turkey....
is bringing cold and clear weather from the north in winters, and the southern jugo
Sirocco
Sirocco, scirocco, , jugo or, rarely, siroc is a Mediterranean wind that comes from the Sahara and reaches hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe. It is known in North Africa by the Arabic word qibli or ghibli Sirocco, scirocco, , jugo or, rarely, siroc is a Mediterranean wind...
(jug=south) bringing rain in summer.
Notable people
The settlement's most famous son is Zvonimir BobanZvonimir Boban
Zvonimir Boban is a Croatian former football midfielder who played most of his professional career for Serie A club Milan, with whom he won four Serie A titles and the Champions League. He was a member of the Croatia national team which attained third place at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, with Boban...
, the captain of the Croatian national football team
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
which finished third at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
. Žarko Domljan
Žarko Domljan
Žarko Domljan was the first Speaker of the Croatian Parliament. He served in this position from May 30, 1990 to August 2, 1992. Domljan was later a representative in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.-References:...
the first Speaker of the Croatian Parliament was born in Imotski. There is also a famous poet Tin Ujević
Tin Ujevic
Augustin "Tin" Ujević is considered to be one of the greatest Croatian poets of all times.Ujević was born in Vrgorac, a small town in the Dalmatian hinterland, and grew up in what were then the provincial towns of Imotski and Makarska. He completed classical gymnasium in Split...
. The city itself is home to Croatian league football club NK Imotski
NK Imotski
NK Imotski is a Croatian football club based in the town of Imotski, in the region of Dalmatia. They play in Druga HNL, Croatia's second level.-Current squad:-Nationalist symbols controversy:...
. 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
Neda Ukraden
Neda Ukraden is a famous Serbian pop-folk singer across all of the former Yugoslavia, whose professional career stretches back over 30 years. She sings in the ijekavian form of the Serbo-Croatian language....
and film director Antun Vrdoljak
Antun Vrdoljak
Antun Vrdoljak is a Croatian screenwriter, film director and former actor and political appointee.-Life:Antun Vrdoljak was born in Imotski, Kingdom of Yugoslavia . He studied acting at the Academy of Drama Arts at the University of Zagreb. His acting debut was in 1957 film Nije bilo uzalud...
. Sports starts include female tennis player Silvija Talaja
Silvija Talaja
Silvija Talaja is a former Croatian professional tennis player.Her most successful year was 2000, when she won two WTA tournaments and received career-high ranking of number 18...
and footballer Tomislav Bušić. Father of former Canada national men's ice hockey team captain Joe Sakic
Joe Sakic
Joseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL...
, Marijan Šakić, is from Imotski. The famous boxer Mate Parlov
Mate Parlov
Mate Parlov was a Croatian boxer, and an Olympic gold medalist for former Yugoslavia. As a professional, he won the European light heavyweight title in 1976 and WBC light heavyweight world title in 1978....
was born near Imotski in the village of Ričice, and a famous fighter for Croatian independence Zvonko Bušić
Zvonko Bušić
Zvonko Bušić is a Croatian emigrant known for hijacking TWA Flight 355 in September 1976. He was subsequently convicted of air piracy, spending 32 years in prison before being released on parole in July 2008.-Background:...
is also from Imotski. Veljko Kadijević
Veljko Kadijevic
Veljko Kadijević is a former General of the Yugoslav People's Army . He was the Minister of Defence in the Yugoslav government from 1988 until his resignation in 1992, which made him de facto commander of JNA during the Ten-Day War in Slovenia and the initial stages of the War in...
, Minister of Defence in the Yugoslav government from 1988 to 1992, was born in Glavina Donja, near Imotski, but now lives in Moscow, Russia.