ABOUT THE CRES-LOŠINJ
ARCHIPELAGO

CRES is the largest Croatian island and it is located in the Gulf of Kvarner. It is a part of APSYRTIDES archipelago which includes Lošinj, Unije, Ilovik, Susak, Vele Srakane, Male Srakane islands as well as numerous small inahibited islets and reefs. The legend of the origin of the archipelago is connected to a Greek mythology hero Jason, the son of Aeson, his boat Argo and Jason's friends ARGONAUTS. According to the legend, islands of the archipelago are the extremities of Apsyrt, a Colchis prince that Jason killed, and then who Medea, sister of Apsyrt, dismembered and threw into the sea.

In ancient times, the islands of Cres and Lošinj were actually one big island. But as the small strip of land between the two islands was the fastest way to cross this region by ship, the channel of Osor was excavated during the Roman period in order to shorten the path to the open sea. Today, a bridge connects the two islands to form one unit.