Lim Bay – Istria – Croatia ( Croatian: Limski kanal ) Slopes covered in different forms of evergreen shrubs oak medunac and bitter oak and a protected landscape. This flora diversity on a relatively narrow area represents a unique phenomena and a special ecological value.
The Lim channel is also specific in that the salinity of the sea in the channel is extremely low or lower then elsewhere. Such composition of the sea is suitable for the cultivation of numerous fish and shellfish varieties. Therefore it is possible to see numerous fish and shellfish (mussels and oysters) farms in the area of the bay. The taste the top shelf seafood produced in the bay by stopping to eat at one of the local restaurants.
Romuald’s Cave and the east side location of the Lim Bay, a beautiful walk or hike through the 360 meter long woods. Named after St. Romuald. The average temperature in its interior is around 12 degrees and relative humidity is 70-75 per cent. The narrow and tall entrance leads to several bigger and more impressive halls. A winding corridor widens at places and makes seven bigger rooms with exceptional decorations. Its height varies between 5 and 7 meters, while its width is between two and seven. Romuald’s Cave is open for guided visits.
History
The legend says that the hermit spent several years in the cave around the year 1000. In his honour, religious processions regularly held until 1942. They would start with the mass in the Church of St. Martin and finish at the cave entrance. The establishment of the nearby Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel on Lim around 1040 connected with the work of St. Romuald.
The cave today protected as the karst phenomenon. The habitat of a large bat, endangered and legally protected species. The cave formed 20000 years ago. Some of its deposited sediments have large paleontological and paleoanthropological value. Many animal remains found, of which the most interesting are those of long extinct species such as the cave bear, lion, leopard or cave hyena. Apart from extinct ice age animals, found here as well, remains of the early man. In addition to his artefacts such as awls and scrapers. A child’s molar, the oldest trace of the early man was found in Istria.
The Pirate Cave is another interesting cave situated in Lim Bay : according to the past stories, this cave was a great refuge for the pirates who were hiding and contemplating their robberies in this hidden cave, accessible only from the sea side.
Back in the 1958, the area of the Lim bay became part of the movie ” Vikings” with Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis and for the purposies of the movie, an interesting Viking settlement was build on the coast of the bay.
