POKONJI DOL

Pokonji dol The islet Pokonji dol is of a rounded shape, about hundred metres in diameter. It is situated south-east of the harbour of Hvar just about 1.5 nautical miles away. On a small slope, in the central part, there dominates today a lighthouse that got its name after the islet on which it was built. The lighthouse is just one in a series of valuable tourist souvenirs of Hvar which marks - with its light beam from the east, the island group of Pakleni otoci. (Hell’s Islands). Together with the coast of the island of Hvar the islet forms a narrow see passage, about five hundred metres wide, while building another sea passage with the nearby island of Jerolim. In the night, the lighthouse is recognised by a combination of white flash it emits and red flash from the Jerolim’s coastline. Pokonji dol is a starting point for numerous yachtsmen on their sailing routes towards Korčula, Lastovo and Mljet, but also a light which marks secure lee on their way back. Near Pokonji dol there is an underwater reef against which - because of its unusual configuration - huge waves brake when south winds blow. The old island pier on the west coast has been renewed, as well as the old storage that once served as shelter from strong winds for the lighthouse keeper’s boat. A vast, stone, one-storey building is surrounded by high stone wall. The lighthouse was built in 1872 and two lighthouse keepers’ families spent their lives in it. The total living area of the building is 220 m2. On the floor and in the attic of the lighthouse keeper’s building there were common rooms, kitchen and rooms while the ground floor accommodated working rooms of the lighthouse keeper. The light in the lighthouse’s turret is at 22 metres above sea level. Walls protect the vast courtyard from the salt haze dispersed by stormy and extremely unpleasant south winds. The islet is covered by low, bushy, Mediterranean vegetation that survives in spite of strong winds that scatter rare piles of land into the sea. In difference to other lighthouses built in the 70-ties of the 19th century Pokonji dol was in its first years just a harbour light because huge light lenses were missing. The red colour light beam was at that time noticeable from just a few nautical miles away. The function of the lighthouse with white beam light of about 10 miles range the lighthouse got only after it had been furnished with special big lenses. Since then, it has been marking by its strong light beam the sailing route from the islands of Korčula, Lastovo and Sušac towards the refuges of Hell’s Islands. The light is today automatised and under remote control and the lighthouse crews are history. In spite of the proximity of the mainland the lighthouse has not yet been connected to electricity network so that the power is provided by solar panels; the old water cistern is still in use. The lighthouse has been renewed; there is an arranged small art gallery in it and art colonies are also organised on the islet. Neven Šerić