Szőcs Péter Levente (szerk.): Căpleni. Ghid cultural şi istoric (Satu Mare, 2009)

The Ecedea Swamp and the traditional activities

The Ecedea Swamp

AND THE TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES

The Ecedea Swamp was fed by the waters of Crasna river and by the floods of the Someş river. It covered a huge surface on the territory of 16 localities, around Căpleni: Domăneşti, Moftinu Mic, Boghiş, Csengerújfalu, Ura, Tyúkod, Porcsalma, Ököritó, Giurtelec, Kocsord, Nyírcsaholy, Nagyecsed, Márk, Vállaj, Berveni and Cămin. These localities formed the micro-region of the Ecedea Swamp called Rétoldal (Latura Fânaţului/Hayfield Side). This name has disappeared after the swamp was drained.

The swamp determined a specific lifestyle, people who lived there, had to observe the specific conditions of the region. The main activity was agriculture, but complementary activities like picking, fishing, and hunting prevailed in comparison with other regions. The greater parts of territories of the villages were in the swamp area, covered permanently by water and with cane. The few dry places turned into islands, and their location was known only by the locals. The agriculture was carried out mainly on these islands. Hunting, fishing, bee keeping and especially the fishing of the mud-fish, ensured living in hard times and have provided an extra

Tavanul casetat al bisericii franciscane A ferences templom kazettás mennyezete The cassetted ceiling of the Franciscan church

Cripta familiei Károlyi A Károlyi család kriptája The crypt of the Károlyi family

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