Zadar, historically known as Zara, is located on the Adriatic Sea in the northwestern part of the Ravni Kotari region. It holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia.
The city serves as the seat of Zadar County and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Covering an area of 25 km2 (9.7 sq mi), it is the second-largest city in Dalmatia and the fifth-largest in the country, with a population of 75,082 recorded in 2011.