Lake Čepić ( hr, Čepićko jezero, Raško, Kožljansko, Sisolsko, it, Lago d'Arsa) was the only natural lake in

Istria Istria ( ; Croatian language, Croatian and Slovene language, Slovene: ; ist, Eîstria; Istro-Romanian language, Istro-Romanian, Italian language, Italian and Venetian language, Venetian: ; formerly in Latin and in Ancient Greek) is the larges ...

, Croatia. It was drained in 1932 with a 4,250 m long tunnel near

Plomin Plomin ( it, Fianona) is a village in the Croatian part of Istria, situated approximately 11 km north of Labin, on a hill 80 meters tall. It is a popular destination for tourists traveling through Istria by road. Originally named ''Fl ...

to the sea. The surface of the vast green valley was transformed into a fertile field for agriculture. The field's area is around 7 km² (elevation 24 m), and the Boljunčica River flows into it, while from it Raša River.

History

The lake was located in eastern Istria, on the western and south-western slopes of Mount Učka (to the west of uplift Sisol, elevation 833 m). South of the lake (now filled) is the town Kršan, to the east the ruins of Kožljak Castle, while to the west and north was the Pauline monastery of St. Mary, and the villages of

Čepić Čepić or Cepich is a village in Istria, Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map ...

Kostrčani Kostrčani ( Istro-Romanian: ''Costârceån'', it, Costerciani) is a village in Istria County, Croatia. Administratively it belongs to municipality of Kršan. The village is inhabited mostly by Istro-Romanians. Location It is located on the N ...

, Brdo Jesenovik, Nova Vas, and Šušnjevica, mostly inhabited by

Istro-Romanians The Istro-Romanians ( ruo, rumeri or ) are a Romance ethnic group native to or associated with the Istrian Peninsula. Historically, they inhabited vast parts of it, as well as the western side of the island of Krk until 1875. However, due to sev ...

. The lake's area was between 5.4 and 8.6 km², depending on the precipitation and the water supply from the Boljunčica River. Its width was 2.5 km at most, while its length was nearly 4 km. The depth of the lake was between 1 and no more than 2.5 metres. The lake was covered with reed and sedge, and was rich in fish ( eel,

carp Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. While carp is consumed in many parts of the world, they are generally considered an invasive species in parts of ...

chub Chub is a common fish name. It pertains to any one of a number of ray-finned fish in several families and genera. In the UK, the term ''chub'' usually refers to the species ''Squalius cephalus''. In addition, see sea chub. In family Cyprinidae ...

), and birds (wild duck, white stork, swan). However, it was also known for malarial mosquitoes and flooding. The lake was recorded in the old topographic maps, the oldest from 1525 and 1563. In 1679 by

Valvasor Johann Weikhard Freiherr von Valvasor or Johann Weichard Freiherr von Valvasor ( sl, Janez Vajkard Valvasor, ) or simply Valvasor (baptised on 28 May 1641 – September or October 1693) was a natural historian and polymath from Carniola, p ...

engravings as ''Zhepizer See'', later as ''Sisol'' lake, and ''Gessaro'' in 1753. The first documents about lake drainage dates to the end of 18th century by Austria and Venice. In 1898, during the rule of Austria, a project was developed to halve the lake surface to around 300 ha. In 1899 it was accepted by Istrian parliament, and the work began in 1902, but was stopped in 1908 due to lack of financial support. When Istria came under the rule of Italy in 1918, a consortium was established in 1920 for regulating the course of the Raša River, ''Conzorzio di Bonifica del Sistema dell' Arsa'', and the work on the new project began in 1928. The tunnel, which extended from the southern point of the lake to the Gulf of Plomin, was 4,560 metres long, built by between 96 and 262 workers per year, and was finished after four years in October 1932. The dam was opened on 11 December of the same year, and the water reached the gulf in 26 minutes. By January 1933, the lake water, totaling 20 million cubic metres, had drained almost completely.

Gallery

File:Valvasor - Čepić.jpg,

, with boats and fishermen on the lake File:CepickoPolje.jpg, The field seen from the village of Jesenovik File:Panorama of Čepić field seen from Kožljak.JPG, Panorama of the field seen from Kožljak

References

* * * ;Other sources * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lake Cepic Cepic Landforms of Istria County Istria Cepic