Nia, its older name, probably derives from (he)neios, which in Greek means "tilled field", and refers to the fertile Unijsko Polje (Unije Field) which is by the soil composition (loess) very similar to those on the islands of Susak, Vele and Male Srakane, and the Lošinj’s peninsula of Kurile.
The continuity of settlement, from prehistoric times until today is confirmed by a number of archaeological finds discovered on the land and in the sea surrounding the island.

Both the northern and eastern sides of the island are steep and rocky, overgrown with evergreen holly-oak, while the southern and western sides are more unbroken and form a bay where only here one can see mirrored in the sea the facade of its houses and fertile fields. This is an island of olive groves whose branches bear witness to their distant past. The highest point of the island is Kalk (132 m.).

The remains of Roman villas, shards of roof riles and bricks testify to the ancient settlement of the island. It was inhabited prior to the Ancient World suggested by the name Hill-fort for a location on the extreme northern and extreme south-eastern sides of the island which, in fact, is the name for old Illyrian hill-forts in this area.

There is a small airport on the island, 30 km from Pula airport and 8 km from Lošinj airport.

It is suggested that those arriving on the island with their own boat should use the more accessible western side of the island, in the bay of Maračol, where the sea is deepest.

There are no cars on the island.

In the village there are several restaurants, patisseries, bakeries, a post office and grocery stores and accommodation (rooms and apartments) is provided by the locals in their typical houses with wide gabled facades.

A regular shipping line connects the island with Lošinj and several times a week the island is linked by catamaran with Rijeka.