Ambroz Haračić

Ambroz Haračić (1855 - 1916), a Croatian botanist, studied mathematics and natural sciences in Vienna and taught at the Maritime School in Mali Lošinj, where he conducted meteorological measurements and observations over a period of 18 years.

Based on his data, the government in Vienna proclaimed Mali Lošinj a climatic health resort in 1892. This marked the beginning of the development of tourism on the island of Lošinj.

Ambroz Haračić was the founder of the Meteorological station at Mali Lošinj in 1879, where he recorded data for many years.
Ambroz Haračić dedicated his entire life to studying the climate and vegetation of his native island, and to the planting of pine forests.
He was the founder, secretary, moving spirit and most active member of the Society for Afforestation and Embellishment of Mali Lošinj. One of the objectives of the society was to afforest the desolate and bleak areas around Mali Lošinj. Under supervision of Professor Haračić, Čikat and other surrounding areas were afforested within a few years with saplings of Aleppo pine and black pine

His collection of plants is kept in the Department of Botany of the Faculty of Science (Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet) in Zagreb. The high school in Mali Lošinj today bears his name.

Haračić’s observations demonstrated that:

• Lošinj has a much milder climate than any other place on the same latitude,

• Lošinj’s average temperature in January is 9°C higher than the average January temperature in Vienna,

• Lošinj’s clean air contains a high and balanced concentration of humidity,

• Lošinj is protected from heavy gusts of wind or sudden changes of climate – in a word, Lošinj is the ideal natural climatic health seaside resort and the ideal winter health resort.

Sea aerosol, balsamic evaporation from the pine trees and natural evergreen vegetation are important factors for the healing quality of the climate of Čikat and the island of Lošinj.
The statue of  Ambroz Haračić is located in the forest park Čikat in Mali Lošinj.

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