LIM BAY - protected landscape (1964.)

<>Lim Bay (Channel), situated on the western cost of Istria, represents a first degree phenomenon of a high scientific as well as aesthetic value. The extraordinary example of a flooded canyon valley in a rocky soil was cut into Jurassic limestone in a length of 10 km. The heights of canyon cliffs rise up to 150 m above the sea level. The bay lays down in the east-west stream while the hill sides strech in a north-south direction.
The Eumediterranean and Submediterranean zones cross their paths over Lim Bay making a perfect sample of the influence of the exposure on the growing flora. The southerly exposure of northern slopes creates macchia of holm oak (As. Orno-quercetum ilicis H-ić 1958) and the northerly exposure of southern slopes forms Submediterranean broadleaf vegetation of downy oak and white yoke elm (As. Orno-carpinetum orientalis croaticum H-ić 1971).
Vertical falling of sun beams on the south exposition conditions fast heating and rapid evaporation causing an arid ground difficult for mesophyllic plants survival.
Inclined beams falling on the north exposition along with shielded hill slopes effects in a slower heating, smaller evaporation and better ground foundation, keeping the moisture, enabling the survival of termophyllic plants.
The existing life forms of an area clearly represent the climate as well, Ilijanić made reaserches for the Lim Bay area exploring the exposure influence as a microclimate element.
On the eastern part of Lim, of southerly exposure, grows littoral perrene specimen - Thelygonum cynocrambe L., the northernmost habitat in Croatia but also the northernmost boundary of its territory altogether. The green Istrian juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus var. rufescens viridis L.) with green fruit can be found here, too.
The great natural and aesthetic worths proclaimed Lim Bay as a landscape under protection.

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