Zavratnica Bay

Zavratnica Bay, located near the village of the same name not far from Jablanac, was formed by the flooding of a torrential valley. It is about 900 meters long and between 50 and 150 meters wide. The steep shores, reaching heights of up to 100 meters, make it resemble a small fjord. To prevent the effects of torrents, dry-stone walling techniques were used to create cascades and terraces planted with cypress, Aleppo and black pine, fig, holm oak, and other tree species.

The flora of Zavratnica includes 116 plant species, 24 of which are legally protected. Some of these are Iris illyrica Tomm. (Illyrian iris), Salvia officinalis L. (common sage), Ruta graveolens L. (common rue), Olea europaea L. (olive tree), Agave americana L. (American agave), Paliurus spina-christi Mill. (Christ’s thorn), and many others.

Zavratnica Bay is part of the NATURA 2000 ecological network, which consists of areas important for the conservation of endangered species and habitats within the European Union. In 1964, an area of 400 hectares was protected as a significant landscape, and since 1981, it has been an integral part of the Velebit Nature Park.

At the beginning of the 20th century, an upper path with a viewpoint and a seaside promenade were built. Around this time, Zavratnica became a secluded summer retreat for the Viennese and Prague elite.

In this idyllic landscape, a tunnel was built in 1930. The magical allure of Zavratnica also captivated the famous Croatian writer Vjenceslav Novak, who found inspiration for his works here.

The steep slopes of Zavratnica Bay sealed the fate of two young British pilots. In late May 1944, with the establishment of the Allied base on the island of Vis, the first attacks on ships in the northern Adriatic began. The most significant attacks in Zavratnica were carried out by British Hurricane aircraft from a base in Italy (6th Squadron). Each attack started from land toward the sea, with the planes diving through the canyon all the way down to the water. On three occasions, the planes were shot down.

The first tragic crash occurred on July 7, 1944, when the aircraft (designation KX804) of pilot Roland McCafferty was hit and crashed into the southern slope of the bay. The second loss occurred on August 27, 1944, when James Brown’s plane (designation KZ243) was hit during an early morning attack and exploded upon impact with the rocks at the mouth of the bay. Both pilots are still listed as missing in action. The third and final crash occurred on September 19, 1944, but without casualties — pilot Ulrich ejected near the Zadar archipelago and was rescued by a partisan boat.

At the very entrance of the bay, the remains of a warship known as the “Siebel ferry” can still be seen. This was a German twin-hulled landing craft, designed specifically for Operation Sea Lion. By connecting two pontoons with a steel platform, Colonel W. Siebel created a vessel of simple design, strong construction, and high durability. It proved extremely useful as a transport, patrol, and mine-laying vessel. During World War II, the steep and high slopes of Zavratnica provided excellent shelter for German warships. In 1944, due to the high concentration of German ships in Jablanac and Zavratnica, the area became a frequent target of air raids. On August 25, 1944, five British aircraft attacked two vessels (LF122 and LF126). After the second strike, one of the vessels sank near the bay’s shore, where its remains — the steel skeleton revealing its size — can still be seen today. The secrets and stories of that ship, however, remain forever submerged.