Dr. Andrásfalvy Bertalan: A Sárköz és a környező Duna menti területek ősi ártéri gazdálkodása és vízhasználatai a szabályozás előtt (Vízügyi Történeti Füzetek 6. Budapest, 1973)

Idegen nyelvű kivonatok

SUMMARY WATER UTILIZATION ON THE FLOOD PLAIN AREAS IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF SÁRKÖZ AND ALONG THE DANUBE BEFORE FLOW REGULATION The study outlines, on the basis of archival and etnographical research the ancient water use and flood plain management is conformity with the changing water level of the Danube in the countries of Tolna and Baranya (Southern Hungary). However, the statements may be taken as of general validity. The traces of similar water management can be followed also in other places along the Danube and aver the inundation areas of the Tisza and of some other rivers in the Capathian Basin, where similar geographical conditions prevail. It is an unsupporter opinion that the vast inundation areas were used as a result of flood control, only from the end of the eighteenth century on. Historical data prove that in Hungary the desolated and marshy flood plains set in under the Turkish wars and occupation (from 1526 to 1686) and their deterioration increased only later on, as a consequence of the unsuccessful initial flood prevention attempts performed. The essence of ancient water use outlined on the basis of abundant hydrographical, plant- and settlement-geographical and ethnographical data, was the cooperation with nature. At the rising of the water level of the Danube (in May and June) the artificially cutting of in Hungarian so-called ,,fok"-s and channels opened the way for the water through natural ridges and entrenchments along the river onto the flood plains. To these lower lying areas, water was conveyed — considering the direction of flow — always from downstream to attain an uniform filling up and to avoid sediment deposition of greater quantity and, during falling, to enable the undisturbed returning of the water into the river bed through the same channel. With the uniform and planned distribution of water the flood damage could be prevented and in the shallow water of the flood plains, easily warming up, optimum conditions could be ensured for the proliferation and growing of fish. Following water recession, at the mouth of the "fok" the greater fishes were seeped out by the aid of boxes prepared from wood and wicker or net. (The smaller ones were let back into the river.) Thus the often mentioned, legendary abundance in fish of Hungary at the Middle Ages (as it was reported by a french monk in 1308 and regarded comparable only with that of Norway) was not merely the gift of nature, but also a result of human interference, of the cooperation with nature. If the inundating floods cover the flood plain only for a short time and the recession passes undisturbed, it has a fertilizing effect on the meadows, pasture lands, orchards and forests as well. The area along the Danube was once renowned for its stock breeding, remarkable richness in fruits and forests. Besides the old and famous horticulture of the islands on the flood plains agriculture and cultivation of cereals took only a secondary part. Mainly the cabbage, paprika, onion, beans and flax were produced in these areas, where the accumulated stable-manure produced during winter in the sties of animals kept there for a longer period, could be used too. After a detailed review of the flood plain management fishing, stock breeding, horticulture, etc.) this study gives some information about the problems of the legal and work organization of fishing showing the main methods and means of fishing. The "fok"-s permanent canals, boat-ways, artificial hill, embankments, watering places, ensured already in the Middle Ages the inland traffic in this region and at the same time its connection with the waterway of the Danube. In the Middle Ages the area along the Danube was one of the most densely populated, richest and most cultured territory.