Zavratnica Bay

About

Zavratnica Bay is a 900-metre-long, narrow inlet located at the foot of the mighty Velebit Mountains. The area has been a designated protected landscape since 1964, and is regarded as one of the major tourist attractions of the norther coastal area due to its impressive beauty. The inlet ranges from 50 to 150 metres in width, surrounded by steep cliffs of up to 100 metres high. While it bears a striking resemblance to a fjord, its geological origin is actually quite different from the formation of fjords, having been formed by a flooded mountain stream as sea levels rose after the last Ice Age. The scenic bay was popular among the Austrian aristocracy, who had walking paths made. Just below the surface of the placid waters lies a German ship sunk during WWII. Zavratnica Bay can be reached by a 30-minute walk along a scenic seaside path.