Mali Ždrelac: a strait that connects people and two unique islands

Mali Ždrelac is a narrow strait between the Ugljan and Pašman islands. It represents the shortest navigation route between the Central Canal on one side and the Pašman and Zadar canals on the other.

Above the strait stretches the bridge Mali Ždrelac, an architectural jewel that connects two island worlds, making the journey between Ugljan and Pašman simple and picturesque.

Mali Zdrelac bridge, Photo:Joachim Pressl, Unsplash

The bridge’s total length is 210 meters, and it was completed in 2012. Before it, there was a bridge built in the seventies of the last century in the same place, which made it difficult to pass under the bridge due to its construction.

The new bridge made navigation possible in both directions because the width was increased from 20 to 56 meters, so smaller vessels and ferries could pass by.

Mali Ždrelac bridge, Photo: HerrAdams, CC BY-SA 4.0

However, some sailors do not respect the bridge’s height limit of 16.5 meters, so every summer, one of the topics related to this beautiful strait is the lashing of vessels to its steel structure.

The best accommodation on Ugljan can be found at the Heritage Hotel Dunatovi dvori.

This often leads to broken masts and material damage, so the advice to all sailors who have boats with masts of these heights is to follow the rules and avoid this passage.

 

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The passage of Mali Ždrelac is well protected from all winds, but the waves of passing ships can be felt in it. The sea current under the bridge is variable in direction and the speed can reach up to 5 knots.

In summer, the strait is full of boats and swimmers who swim near this attractive bridge.

The Mali Ždrelac Bridge is not only an architectural marvel, but also a symbol of the unity and beauty of the islands of Ugljan and Pašman and an important traffic artery necessary for the development of tourism.