Drvenik Veli is a Croatianisland in the Adriatic Sea. It is situated in the middle of the Dalmatianarchipelago, northwest of Šolta, 1.8 kilometres (1.1 miles) from the mainland.[1] Its area is 12.07 square kilometres (4.66 sq mi).[2][3] The highest peak is 178 metres high.[3] The only settlement on the island is the near-eponymous village of Drvenik Veliki (pronounced[dr̩v̞ɛ̌niːkv̞ɛ̂likiː]) with a population of 150 (2011 census).[4]
The island was first inhabited in the 15th[5] or 16th century.[6] The main industries on the island are agriculture, fishing and tourism.[5][7] The coast of the island is mainly rocky, but also has a few famous sand and pebblebeaches like Krknjaši and Kokošinje.[7]
Etymology
Since ancient times, the island has been known by its Romanized name, Zirona.[8] The name Zirona likely originated from the Illyrian root "gųer" meaning "forest", possibly because of the island's once dense woodlands. In Croatian documents from the 13th century, the island is mentioned as Girona, Gerona or Giruna.[5][8] Some suggest that the name Girona might have Greek origins, derived from the noun "gyrona" meaning "rounded object", a notion supported by the island's somewhat rounded morphology.[8] The Croatian name Drvenik ("veli" means "large" in Croatian) finds its origin in the Croatian word "drvo", meaning "wood", establishing a link either to its Illyrian roots, according to some, or to the town of Drvenik near Makarska, from which a significant portion of its population migrated in the 17th century.
