The coast around Vrsar is considered to be the most indented part of the Istrian coast. The 18 local islands and islets, Vrsar quayside, numerous bays and inlets as well as the Lim Bay as the southernmost part of the municipal area all contribute to the indentedness of the coastline
The coast around Vrsar counts 18 local islands and islets.
The most significant islands and islets of Vrsar are the following: Figarolica, Lakal, Salamun 1 and 2, Zavata, Galiner, Sveti Juraj, Gusti školj, Koversada, Longa and Orlandin. Sveti Juraj, the largest island, has a surface area of 112,408 m2 and its coastline is 1733 m long; it is followed by Koversada with 67,477 m2 and 990 m, the Salamun 2 islands with 39,881 m2 and 773 m, Longa with 29,923 m2 i 826 m, and the Salamun islands with 24,587 m2 and 590 m.
Reliable evidence of permanent habitation has been recorded on Sveti Juraj island.
Reliable evidence of permanent habitation has been recorded on Sveti Juraj, but the island of Koversada is also interesting in that regard. In historical and cartographic sources, Koversada can be found under the name Conversada. Its name is probably derived from the Latin verb convertere, which would imply that converts used to live permanently or at least temporarily on the island. There are also two significant capes on the Vrsar coast: Petalon (“Petalun” on nautical maps) and Šjole, constituting a natural gate to Lim Bay. The natural landmarks of the sea around Vrsar include several shallows: Velika, Mramori, Koversada (“Kuvrsada” on maps), Lim and Fujaga.
The ambient of the islands and bays, numerous sheltered inlets, nearby (to the north of Vrsar) and inexhaustible sources of fresh water known since the ancient times, importance of stone and local quarries for the region, and hills (including the Vrsar hill) have all been creating favourable conditions for habitation by man since prehistory. Today, the described natural ambient is one of the most significant relative advantages of Vrsar as a tourist destination as well as a feature of its widely known landscape, which has received the most recognition in tourism.
