Žirje, Croatia

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Žirje

| image_skyline = Zirje satelite.gif

| image_caption = Satellite image of Žirje

| image_map = {{infobox mapframe | stroke-width=1 | zoom = 9 }}

| pushpin_map = Croatia

| coordinates = {{coord|43.652311|N|15.661636|E|display=inline}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|Croatia}}

| subdivision_type1 = County

| subdivision_name1 = Šibenik-Knin County

| subdivision_type2 = Municipality

| subdivision_name2 = Šibenik

| population_as_of = 2021

| population_footnotes ={{Croatian Census 2021|S}}

| population_total = 147

| timezone = CET

| utc_offset = +1

| timezone_DST = CEST

| utc_offset_DST = +2

| postal_code_type =

| postal_code =

| area_code =

| area_total_km2 = 15.08

| population_density_km2 = 6.83

}}

Žirje ({{IPA|sh|ʒîːrjɛ|pron}}) is an island and a settlement in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea.{{Cite journal |title=Zakon o područjima županija, gradova i općina u Republici Hrvatskoj |url=https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2006_07_86_2045.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607220309/https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2006_07_86_2045.html |archive-date=2023-06-07 |access-date= |website=Narodne novine |language=hr}} It is situated in the Šibenik archipelago, about {{convert|22|km|0|abbr=off}} southwest of Šibenik, which makes it the most remote permanently inhabited island in the Šibenik archipelago.[http://www.adriagate.com/croatia/destination_details.aspx?DESTINATIONID=145 Žirje on adriagate.com]{{sfn|Faričić|Magaš|2004|p=127}} Its area is 15.08 km²,

{{cite journal

| url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/9636

| title=Coastline lengths and areas of islands in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea determined from the topographic maps at the scale of 1 : 25 000

| journal=Geoadria

| location=Zadar

| volume=9

| issue=1

| pages=5–32

| date=June 2004

| last1=Duplančić Leder

| first1=Tea

| last2=Ujević

| first2=Tin

| last3=Čala

| first3=Mendi

| doi=10.15291/geoadria.127

| format=PDF

| access-date=2019-12-17

| doi-access=free

}} and it has a population of 103 (2011 census).{{Croatian Census 2011|S|15|4448|title=Žirje}} Its population is steadily decreasing (720 residents in 1953, 207 residents in 1981, and 124 residents in 2001{{cite web|url=http://www.dzs.hr/hrv/censuses/census2001/Popis/H01_01_03/h01_01_03_zup15-4448.html|title=STANOVNIŠTVO PREMA PRISUTNOSTI/ODSUTNOSTI U NASELJU POPISA, PO NASELJIMA, POPIS 2001.|publisher=Croatian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=30 January 2011}}).

The island is composed of two limestone ridges. Nestled between them is a fertile valley.{{in lang|hr}} {{GE-YLZ|8|Žirje}} The vegetation of the island is mainly composed of maquis shrubland, with some farm land in the central parts of the island.{{in lang|hr}} [http://peljar.cvs.hr/show_place_info.php?id=125 First Croatian online peljar] Main industries are agriculture (grapes, olives, plums, figs and sour cherries) and fishing. Fish are abundant in the waters around Žirje.[http://www.croatiatouristcenter.com/zirje.htm Žirje on croatiatouristcenter.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109160410/http://www.croatiatouristcenter.com/zirje.htm |date=2006-11-09 }}{{sfn|Faričić|Magaš|2004|p=145}} Tourism on Žirje has remained largely undeveloped in comparison to the other islands in the Croatian Adriatic.{{sfn|Faričić|Magaš|2004|pp=146–148}}

In the 12th and 13th centuries the island was defended by fortresses and walls constructed on the foundations of an earlier Byzantine fortress from the 6th century.[http://www.adriatic-croatian.com/region/place_gb.asp?region=3&content=document&ID=227 Žirje on adriatic-croatian.com] Due to its use by the Yugoslav People's Army, the southern and south-western parts of the island were off limits to the islanders and visitors for nearly half a century.{{sfn|Faričić|Magaš|2004|p=127}}

The ferry port on the island provides a link to the county seat Šibenik via the D128 route.