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{{short description|Adriatic island of Croatia's Dalmatia region}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Mljet
| image_name       = Zalazak.jpg
| image_caption    = Sunset over the Mljet lakes
| image_size       = 
| image_map        = {{infobox mapframe | shape-fill-opacity = 0.25 | stroke-width=1 | zoom=8 }}
| map_caption      = 
| pushpin_map = Croatia
| native_name      = 
| native_name_link = Croatian
| nickname         = 
|demonym           = Mljećanin (male)
Mljećka (female)
| location         = [[Adriatic Sea]]
| coordinates      = {{coord|42|44|42|N|17|32|06|E|region:HR-19|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = [[Adriatic]] [[island]]s
| total_islands    = 
| major_islands    = 
| area_km2         = 98.01
| rank             = 
| length_km        = 37
| width_km         = 3.2
| coastline_km     = 135.185
| highest_mount    = Veliki grad
| elevation_m      = 514
| country          = Croatia
| country_admin_divisions_title   = [[Counties of Croatia|County]]
| country_admin_divisions         = [[Dubrovnik-Neretva County|Dubrovnik-Neretva]]
| country_largest_city            = Babino Polje
| country_largest_city_population = 270
| population       = 1,088
| population_as_of = 2011
| density_km2      = 11.34
| ethnic_groups    = 97.3% [[Croats]]<br>2.7% others
}}
'''Mljet''' ({{IPA|sh|mʎɛ̂t|pron}}) is the southernmost and easternmost of the larger [[Adriatic]] [[island]]s of the [[Dalmatia]] region of [[Croatia]].<ref name="Duplancic-Cala-Ujevic">{{cite journal |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/9636 |title=Coastline lengths and areas of islands in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea determined from the topographic maps at the scale of 1 : 25 000 |journal=Geoadria |location=[[Zadar]] |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=5–32 |date=June 2004 |last1=Duplančić Leder |first1=Tea |last2=Ujević |first2=Tin |last3=Čala |first3=Mendi |doi=10.15291/geoadria.127 |format=PDF |access-date=19 November 2019 |doi-access=free |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021090159/https://hrcak.srce.hr/9636 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the west of the island is the [[Mljet National Park]].

==Population==
In the 2011 census, Mljet had a population of 1,088.<ref name="Census 2011">{{Croatian Census 2011|S|19|2682}}</ref> Ethnic [[Croats]] made up 97.33% of the population.<ref>{{Croatian Census 2011|E|19}}</ref>

In 2021, the municipality had 1,062 residents in the following 14 settlements:<ref name="Census 2021"/>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Babino Polje]], population 262
*[[Blato, Mljet|Blato]], population 31
*[[Goveđari]], population 138
*[[Korita, Dubrovnik-Neretva County|Korita]], population 52
*[[Kozarica]], population 30
*[[Maranovići]], population 29
*[[Okuklje]], population 38
*[[Polače]], population 111
*[[Pomena]], population 62
*[[Prožura]], population 26
*[[Prožurska Luka]], population 48
*[[Ropa, Croatia|Ropa]], population 23
*[[Saplunara]], population 83
*[[Sobra]], population 129
{{div col end}}

{{Croatian population data graph |censuses=HRV |entered=2022-09-24 |entity=Mljet |p1857=1330 |p1869=1381 |p1880=1509 |p1890=1623 |p1900=1617 |p1910=1915 |p1921=1934 |p1931=2050 |p1948=2086 |p1953=2054 |p1961=1963 |p1971=1638 |p1981=1395 |p1991=1237 |p2001=1111 |p2011=1088 |p2021=1062}}

==History==
Mljet was discovered by ancient [[Greco-Roman geographers]], who wrote the first records and descriptions. The island was first described by [[Scylax of Caryanda]] in the 6th century BC; others prefer the text, ''[[Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax]]''. In both texts, it is named Melite and supported by [[Apollonius of Rhodes]].<ref Name="Sanader">{{cite book |last=Sanader |first=Mirjana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ysVpAAAAMAAJ&q=Meleda |title=Kroatien in der Antike |publisher=Von Zabern |year=2007 |isbn=978-3-8053-3740-3 |page=58 |language=de |quote=In der Antike hieß sie Melite (Pseudo-Skylax 23), obwohl sie bei Apollonios Rhodios (4, 5629) auch als Meleda erwähnt wird. |access-date=2022-09-14 |archive-date=2022-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914231547/https://books.google.com/books?id=ysVpAAAAMAAJ&q=Meleda |url-status=live }}</ref><ref Name="Bryant">Bryant, Jacob (1715–1804) [https://archive.org/details/anewsystemorana04goog/page/n361 <!-- pg=359 quote=Callimachus melede. --> A New System, Or, An Analysis of Ancient Mythology: Wherein an Attempt is Made to Divest Tradition of Fable and to Reduce the Truth to Its Original Purity], The Third Edition in Six Volumes, ''printed for J. Walker''; ''W. J. and J. Richardson''; ''by R. Faulder Press'', 1807., Vol. V., pp 357-358. {{in lang|en}}</ref> [[Agathemerus]] and [[Pliny the Elder]] call the island Melita.<ref Name="Bryant"/>

Agesilaus of Anaxarba in [[Cilicia]], the father of [[Oppian]], was banished to Mljet by the [[Roman Emperor]] [[Septimius Severus]] (AD 145–211)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2370.html |title=Text from ''ancientlibrary.com'' |access-date=2006-10-08 |archive-date=2006-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006070315/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2370.html |url-status=usurped }}</ref> (or to [[Malta (island)|Malta]] by [[Lucius Verus]]).
[[File:Mlet convent.JPG|thumb|left|Monastery of Saint Mary]]

Mljet is mentioned around 950 by the [[Byzantine Emperor]] [[Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos]] in his ''[[De Administrando Imperio]]'' as one of the islands held by the [[Narentines]]. The island was often a controversy of ownership between them and [[Zachlumia]]. [[Ancient Greeks]] called the island "Melita" or "[[honey]]" which over the centuries evolved to become the [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] name, Mljet ({{IPA|sh|mʎɛt|pron}}).

Mljet has been regarded as the "Melita" on which [[Paul the Apostle]] was shipwrecked ([[Acts of the Apostles]] 27:39–28:11), this view being first expounded in the 10th century, by [[Eastern Roman Empire|Eastern Roman]] Emperor [[Constantine Porphyrogenitus]]. Paul's shipwreck is generally placed on the [[Mediterranean]] island of Malta. Mljet and Malta had the same name in the Greek and Roman sources; the mention of a viper in Acts 28:3–5 was thought to be in favour of Mljet (there are snakes on both Mljet and Malta but only the former is home to a venomous snake). A harbour named after the Apostle exists on both islands.

The [[Benedictine]]s from [[Pulsano]] in [[Apulia]] became the feudal lords of the island in 1151, having come from [[Monte Gargano]] in [[Italy]]. They came ashore in the Sutmiholjska cove and in 1187–1198 [[Desa, Grand Prince of Serbia]], of the [[House of Vojislavljević]] built and donated to them the Church and Monastery of [[Saint Mary]] on the islet in the Big Lake ({{lang|hr|Veliko jezero}}) towards the north-west end of the island. [[Pope Innocent III]] issued a document consecrating the church in 1198.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

The Benedictines renounced their rule over Mljet in 1345, keeping only a third of the land. The island got a statute and a municipality in [[Babino Polje]]. It was formally annexed by the [[Republic of Ragusa]] in 1410. According to the Contract with the Benedictines, the municipality had to pay 300 [[Ragusan perpera|perperas]] each year.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}
[[File:Mljet pomena.JPG|thumb|right|Seaside of Pomena]]
In the 16th century, the monastery was the center of the [[Mljet Congregation]] (''Congregatio Melitensis'' or ''Melitana''), gathering all the monasteries of Benedictine monks in the area of the Republic of Ragusa. The first president of the Congregation was [[Mavro Vetranović]], the abbot of the Mljet monastery and the famous poet. Another great poet was abbot there—[[Ignjat Đurđević]] in the 18th century. As time went by, the Benedictine monastery on Mljet lost its importance, while the seat of the Mljet Congregation moved to Sveti Jakov near [[Dubrovnik|Ragusa]].{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

In 1809, during the rule of [[Napoleon]], the Mljet monastery was disbanded. When [[Austrian Empire|Austria]] took over the island, it placed the forestry office in the building. [[Interwar period|Between the world wars]], the building was owned by the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dubrovnik|Diocese of Ragusa (Dubrovnik)]]. In 1960 it became a hotel, and in 1998 it was returned to the Diocese. The island has a long history of eco-damage. In order to ease their transport problems, the monks dug a channel to the south coast, from the Big Lake, thus turning both fresh-water lakes into seawater-based ones.{{Citation needed|reason=Questionable statement.|date=August 2020}}

The second incident involves [[mongoose]]s. [[Small Indian mongoose]]s were introduced onto the island in the early 20th century in order to reduce the ''[[Vipera ammodytes]]'' population (the island was apparently completely overrun). Whilst the mongooses completed this task, they also disposed of pretty much all the birdlife of the island. To this day, the island is notably short of hedgerow birds, such as [[Old World sparrow|sparrow]]s. Mongooses are a hazard for domestic poultry, and are also known to cause damage in vineyards and orchards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zadarskilist.hr/clanci/17032009/mungos---ljuti-neprijatelj-prirode |title=Mungos - ljuti neprijatelj prirode |work=Zadarskilist.hr |date=17 March 2009 |language=hr |access-date=8 June 2012 |archive-date=17 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417212231/http://www.zadarskilist.hr/clanci/17032009/mungos---ljuti-neprijatelj-prirode |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Goli.jpg|thumb|right|Goli Rat is Mljet's westernmost point]]
[[File:Prožurska luka 02.jpg|thumb|right|Prožurska Luka]]
[[File:Sobra Mljet.jpg|thumb|right|Sobra]]
Mljet lies south of the [[Pelješac]] peninsula, from which it is divided by the Mljet Channel. Its length is {{cvt|37|km|mi}}; its average breadth {{cvt|3.2|km|mi}}. It is of volcanic origin,{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} with numerous chasms and gorges, of which the longest, the Babino Polje, connects the north and south of the island. Port Polače, the principal harbour in the north, is a port of call for tourist ferries. Mljet contains one hotel—The Odisej (from the Greek ''Odysseus'') in the north-west corner of the island.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

The northwestern part of the island includes an inland lake as well as a small island within it. It has been part of the [[Mljet National Park]] since November 12, 1960. Over 84% of the island of {{cvt|98.01|km2|sqmi}} is forest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.undp.hr/upload/file/227/113690/FILENAME/31_07_Kartiranje_stanista_Dal...u_prioritetnim_podrucjima_S_.pdf |title=Priručnik o kartama staništa Dalmacije |date=June 2009 |language=hr, en |page=97 |access-date=14 February 2011 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721102630/http://www.undp.hr/upload/file/227/113690/FILENAME/31_07_Kartiranje_stanista_Dal...u_prioritetnim_podrucjima_S_.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The island's geological structure consists of [[limestone]] and [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]] forming ridges, crests and slopes. A few depressions on the island of Mljet are below sea level and form non-permanent brackish lakes known as ''blatine'' ("mud-lakes") or ''slatine'' ("salt-lakes").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mljet.hr/?l=hr&ispis=staticna&id=24&iskljuci=da |title=Nacionalni park |work=mljet.hr |publisher=Mljet Tourist Board |language=hr |access-date=16 July 2018 |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716170044/http://www.mljet.hr/?l=hr&ispis=staticna&id=24&iskljuci=da |url-status=live }}</ref>

The climate is [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]]; an average air temperature in January is 9&nbsp;°C (48&nbsp;°F) and in July about 24&nbsp;°C (75&nbsp;°F). Precipitation (mostly falling between October and April) averages between 35 and 45 inches annually, with the hills receiving the highest amounts.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

===Settlements===
According to the 2011 census, the settlements of Mljet have the following population:<ref name="Census 2011"/>
*[[Babino Polje]] (270): largest settlement, police station, school
*[[Goveđari]] (151)
**Babine Kuće
**Pristanište
**Soline
*[[Pomena]] (52)
*[[Polače]] (113): ferry port, Roman ruins
*[[Blato, Mljet|Blato]] (39)
*[[Ropa, Croatia|Ropa]] (37): auto camp
*[[Kozarica]] (28)
*[[Sobra]] (131): ferry port
*[[Prožura]] (40)
**[[Prožurska Luka]] (40)
*[[Maranovići]] (43)
*[[Okuklje]] (31)
*[[Korita, Dubrovnik-Neretva County|Korita]] (46)
*[[Saplunara]] (67): beach

==Transportation==
The island of Mljet has no airport. [[Dubrovnik Airport]] on the mainland provides the main international connection for the island. Mljet has ferry lines with Pelješac peninsula and Dubrovnik. Transportation to the island is provided by [[Jadrolinija]] ferry service. Sobra, the main port on the island, is connected to [[Dubrovnik-Gruž]] and [[Ston]] via a car ferry. There are two type of ferries available: a car ferry and a faster catamaran ferry (2.5 hours and 90 minutes to Dubrovnik, respectively).

The two-lane paved [[D120 road]] runs throughout the island. Scheduled buses on Mljet travel just once or twice a day.

== See also ==
*[[Meleda disease]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

*{{EB1911|wstitle=Meleda|volume=18|page=93}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.mljet.hr/ Island of Mljet]
*[https://www.mljettravel.com/ Mljet Travel Guide]

{{Subdivisions of Dubrovnik-Neretva County}}
{{Islands of Croatia}}
{{Inhabited Islands of Croatia}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Mljet| ]]
[[Category:Landforms of Dubrovnik-Neretva County]]
[[Category:Forests of Croatia]]
[[Category:Islands of Croatia]]
[[Category:Islands of the Adriatic Sea]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Croatia]]