Island of Brac climate and nature

The climatic characteristics Brac are mild and rainy winters, dry and warm summers, and great differences in temperature between the places along the sea and those above 500 meters. The north parts are exposed in winter to the cold blows of the "bura" from the mainland, especially from Vrulja below the Biokovo Mountain.

The plant life is connected with the climate. It is dominated by holm-oak (Quercus ilex), which is, unfortunately, in recession due to inappropriate cutting in the recent past, clearing and fires. It is being replaced by dense, impassable evergreen macchia.

Dense forests of holm-oak, black pine, common oak, hornbeam and Montpelier maple protected the soil from erosion in the past. Holm-oak was cut and exported to Split and Italy, as an excellent fuel.

Juniper-tree has been cut for centuries for fishing "under the lantern". Wood was used to burn in lime pits for the production of slack lime. Today, only quarter of the island is wooded with trees consisting mostly of the autochthonous Aleppo pine (Pinus halapensis) growing even 300 metres high, and black pine {Pinus nigra dalmatica) growing up to 400 metres.

More than 130 species of birds live on the island, spending winter or summer or flying down in passing. Among domestic animals, the goat has been the symbol of the island from ancient times, and also the sheep.

Until recently, you could not find a peasant without a mule, the hybrid between a horse and female ass or an ass and mare. Among the mammals, the dormouse (Glis, glis) is also a symbol of Brac. It is similar to a big mouse, but with a beautiful furry tail; it is a speciality of the Brac cuisine.

Among snakes, the best known is the ashen horned viper (Vipera ammodytes) with a small horn on the nose and with two poisonous teeth. It can be recognized also by its zigzag dark marking on its back. It attacks very rarely, only when it feels danger.