Croatia is famous for its crystal-clear sea and more than a thousand islands and islets scattered along the Adriatic coast. While many are known for their beauty and beaches, some stand out for a very different reason — their extraordinary shapes. Seen from above, these tiny islands look like works of art carefully drawn by nature itself.
Here are some of the most fascinating unusually shaped islets in Croatia.
Galešnjak, the island of love
The most famous unusually shaped islet in Croatia is undoubtedly Galešnjak, located in the Pašman Channel. From the air, it looks like a perfect heart, earning it the nickname “The Island of Love.”
Although uninhabited, Galešnjak has become a global symbol of romance, often featured in travel magazines and used for proposals and weddings.
Veliki Baljenac, a stone labyrinth
People often wonder who “created” the Fingerprint Island. Was it man-made? A miracle of nature? The answer is: both! Nature gave the island its circular shape, but humans built the intricate stone walls that give it its distinct appearance.
The length of the dry-stone walls is simply astonishing — on this tiny islet of just 0.14 square kilometers, there are over 23 kilometers of walls. The walls are constructed in wavy, circular patterns that resemble the ridges of a human fingerprint. Combined with the island’s natural circular shape, the lines of the walls give the islet a unique appearance that unmistakably mimics a human fingerprint
From the sky, it looks like abstract art carved in stone, a true monument to human persistence and Mediterranean heritage.
Gaz, the fish-shaped islet
Among the smaller and lesser-known islets is Gaz, a charming fish-shaped Adriatic escape. Its rocky coastline and tranquil waters make it a perfect spot for quiet reflection, swimming, or exploring by boat. Though small, Gaz showcases the Adriatic’s rugged beauty in miniature, and from above, its unique fish-like shape is clearly visible, making it a hidden gem for explorers and drone photographers.
Why are these shapes special?
Together, nature and humans have shaped a unique seascape unlike anywhere else in Europe.
