The island of Mljet is located near the peninsula of Peljesac, Korcula and Dubrovnik. It is the eighth largest Croatian island, it has a dry summers and 2,500 hours of sunshine yearly. It is believed that Mljet is one of the sunniest island in the Adriatic. Also known is the national park which was declared a national park in 1960.. Due to its rich cultural and historical heritage and rich flora, numerous islands and green vegetation Mljet attracts many tourists during the summer months, and because of these attributes Mljet is a national park. You can find many endemic plants, and in particular significant is Croatian Centaury. Also interesting are the many caves and sinkholes which attract tourists and a system of salt lakes like the Veliko i malo jezero. These lakes are particularly interesting for natural scientists but also for many curious tourists. In the midst of the Veliko Jezero is located small island of Sv. Marija which has a church and Benedictine monastery from the ancien...t 12th century. Geomorphic phenomena Odysseus cave is located in the southern part of the coast of Mljet. In the bottom of the lake there is a salt water because this phenomenon is connected by a tunnel to the open sea. Dense vegetation is important for the name of this island, which is often called the green island. Mljet has five types of forests since the time of the Benedictines, who cared about them. The first inhabitants of the island of Mljet descended from tribes Ardiaei who come to Mljet 4000 years ago. Due to the fact that when they arrived the island was very congested, they settled in the areas of drinking water. Habitats were built of stone walls, and the majority were engaged in fishing and animal husbandry. The first historical data and records of Mljet is mentioned during the reign of Greece when Greek sailors sailed on Hvar, Vis and Korcula. And they certainly went through Mljet channel and took refuge in the numerous bays during storms.