Ligeti László: A Balaton szabályozása (Vízügyi Történeti Füzetek 7. Budapest, 1974)
Idegen nyelvű összefoglalók
SUMMARY Although Lake of Balaton and its surroundings became a significant and properly valued national asset in recent times only, their economic role was considerable long ago. Populated since ancient times and densely settled during the Roman ages it was an important agricultural area famous for its vines and orchards. From these ages not only architectural-archeological relics but also traces of early landscape engineering activities have been preserved. Regulation of the water-level of the lake was also initiated presumably at the same time. The region, which has been fallen back into its ancient shape during the ages of the Great Migration of the Peoples, started to flourish again after the occupation of their present country by the Hungarian tribes. It became a land multieconomically utilized, with several economic and cultural centres. During the Turkish invasion it was an important section in the chain of fortresses defending the West. Its strategical value was entraced at the same time by artificial interference in the natural life of the lake, by raising the mill-dike serving drainage purposes at Siófok. According to historical maps this situation was conserved until the 18th century, when regulation of the lake and its marshy surroundings were started. The aim at that time was to extend usable agricultural land to stimulate export of grain and stock. This drainage activity was so forced that almost the lake itself fell victim to these efforts. The drainage plan of 1776 by Samuel Krieger was fortunately not accomplished and regulation was again discussed at the beginning of the 19th century under the so-called Beszédes-plan prepared for the comprehensive regulation of the Sárvíz—Sió— Kapos —Balaton area. Public interest was aroused by a leaflet of István Széchenyi in 1846. In this paper, aimed originally to make propaganda for steam-beat navigation on the lake, all important problems of the development of Lake Balaton have been discussed, among others the development of a resort area on an international level. These far-reaching plans could not be realized, however, only after the construction of the Southern Railway System and during the period after the Austro-Hungarian compromise. The development at the end of the century was extremely rapid and contradictory. Regulation plans of the lake were, however, not backed by considerations derived from natural, hydrological balances of the lake but by economic interests and power. The water level of the lake was thought to be fixed around today's ,,0" point of the gauge due to aims of interested railways and resort-centers built on areas which have not yet been filled up. Although this plan was later realized as intolerable and the average level of the lake had to be raised, the level required by the natural, hydrological balance and perspective water demands could be reapproximated only. Water level regulation measures had to be adjusted to available situations and requirements. The main tool of water level regulation, the sluice of Siófok was repeatedly reconstructed (in 1863, 1891 and 1947) and the capacity thereof was enlarged from 8 to 50 m 3 /sec. Besides the reduction of water level fluctuations other important tasks for the water service were the construction and maintenance of permanent harbours suited to the new navigation purposes, and of bank-protection. The initiator of these activities was Jenő Kvassay, reorganizer of the Hungarian water service. A significant part, however, of the resa+ts-achieved was due to the Harbour-Construction Commission of Lake Balaton and its director Dezső K, Nagy, who was responsible for lake development at that time. Significant work has been contributed to the water level regulation program of the Balaton Region by the water associations, mainly by drainage of peat areas for agricultural purposes. (Proper utilization of these lands, however, is a future task by introducing irri-
