Geographically, Mljet is located in the open sea on the southeast Adriatic. Its location determines clime and vegetation on the island which is famous by its natural heritage: lakes, bays, sources of drinking water, steeply and rocky coast, preserved forests of holm oak tree and aleppo pine, caves, sandy coves... Those are some of the reasons why in 1960. northwest part of the island, with its area of 3000 ha, became national park. Institution for preserving natural heritage was founded in the same year.