44°28′30″N 15°00′25″E Dubrava – Hanzine is a significant landscape and a special forest vegetation reserve on the island of Pag. It is located approximately 2 km from us (a 20-minute walk).
It covers an area of 429 hectares. In 1988, it was declared a significant landscape. This forest of holm oak and white hornbeam is the only deciduous forest on the island of Pag. Since it is the last remnant of this forest community on the island, it needs to be protected with special care. The oak has long been considered a special tree, and thus was dedicated to the supreme deities in many European cultures.
It was a symbol of Zeus in ancient Greece, Jupiter in ancient Rome, and Perun among the ancient Slavs (the supreme deity, god of thunder and lightning). After the arrival of Christianity in our region, it is possible that Perun was replaced here by Saint Vitus, because that is exactly the name of the highest peak on Pag (St. Vid, 349 m). The sea is so close, and you are in a deciduous forest, a holm oak forest. This should come as a surprise to you, because this type of oak is usually not tolerant of salt and mostly grows at higher altitudes (in the coastal area from 400 to 900 m, and in the interior at an altitude of 1700 m), and here it goes all the way to the sea.
All forests, including this one, affect the climate, produce oxygen, preserve water, filter the air, prevent erosion, landslides, etc. The benefits of forests are far-reaching, they are also used for rest and recreation. Everything is more beautiful with them. For example, would you be here now if the forest were not there? The Dubrava – Hanzine forest is very old, but it is not known when it was created. It is certain that it existed in the 14th century, because historical material says that at that time the church of St. Mary Magdalene was built on the edge of this forest, the remains of which are still visible today.
