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Biševo (pronounced [bîʃevo], Chakavian: Bisovo, Italian: Busi) is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea. It is situated in the middle of the Dalmatian archipelago, 5 km south-west of the Island of Vis. Its area is 5.8 km2 (2.2 sq mi)[1][2] and it has a population of 15 (as of 2011).[3]
 Biševo island seen from an airplane. | |
 | |
  Biševo | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Adriatic Sea |
| Coordinates | 42°58′N 16°0′E |
| Area | 5.8 km2 (2.2 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 239 m (784 ft) |
| Highest point | Stražbenica |
| Administration | |
Croatia | |
| County | Split-Dalmatia |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 15 (2011) |
| Pop. density | 17.2/km2 (44.5/sq mi) |
Biševo is composed of limestone.[4] The highest point is Stražbenica, 239 metres (784 ft) high,[4] accessible by a 45-minute walk along the footpath.[5] In the center of the island there is a fertile field; the northern part of the island is covered with pine forests and the rest with maquis shrubland or bare rocks. The coastal sea belt is a rich fishing area.[6] The main industries are viticulture and fishing.
Caves
Blue Cave
On the steep shores there are many caves, the most famous being Blue Cave, which was carved in the limestone by the sea. It is located on the eastern side of the island and is one of the most important attractions of the Adriatic. It was well-known to local fishermen, who in 1884 showed it to the Austrian artist, explorer, and speleologist Eugen von Ransonnet-Villez, who published an article in the Viennese daily Neue Freie Presse declaring that its beauty surpassed even that of Capri's famed Blue Grotto. From that time on, it became a major tourist attraction.
The approach to the cave is only possible by boat.[6] It is 18 metres (59 ft) long, 6 metres (20 ft) deep, and 6 metres (20 ft) high.[4] The entrance to the cave is only 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) high and 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) wide.[7] During the summer between 10 am and 1 pm, sunbeams penetrate the submarine opening in Blue Cave and are reflected from the white floor, colouring the cave blue and objects in the water silver.[6]
Monk Seal Cave
Also known as Medvedina, the cave is lies on the south-east side of the island and has been protected since 1967. The name of the cave originates commemorates the Mediterranean monk seals, now an endangered species, which used to populated it. It is special geomorphologically because the entrance into the Monk Seal Cave is quite big and wide, it narrows completely towards the interior. The length of the cave is 160 m and it ends with a small beach that only small vessels, such as speedboats, can reach. This cave is difficult to spot when cruising away from the shore, due to the unusually narrow, almost vertical, 30 m high opening in the stone gorge. The interior of the cave consists of a main, spacious hall and a low winding canal which, after about 70 m, ends with a small beach. It is a well-known Dalmatian islands tourist attraction.
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Biševo, along with Vis, Sveti Andrija and its neighbouring islet of Kamnik, Brusnik, Jabuka and the Palagruža archipelago, forms part of the Croatian Offshore Islands Important Bird Area (IBA). This was designated as such by BirdLife International because it supports significant breeding populations of Scopoli's and Yelkouan shearwaters, as well as of Eleonora's falcons.[8]
A Benedictine monastery was founded on Biševo in 1050 by Ivan Grlić from Split, but it was deserted two centuries later because of the danger of pirates. The church of Saint Sylvester is preserved near the ruins of the monastery.[1][9]
There was a school on the island, built in 1947 and closed in 1961.[10] Electricity was introduced in the 1970s.[11]
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