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

The Swamp of Ecsed (Ecedea)

The Swamp of Ecsed (Ecedea)

The swamp formed through a natural process, which started around 15000 BC, and it lasted until the modern times. Thus, the area of cca. 340 km2, between the Szamos (Someş) and the Kraszna (Crasna) Rivers sunk during the centuries, and it drew the waters of the wider area. The swamp took its final shape starting from 2550 BC to 800 BC. The area of the marshland, however, was permanently changing according to water level and human activities. The perpetuation of the swamp was assured by the waters of the Nyír region and the floods of the Szamos (Someş), Kraszna (Crasna), Ér (Eriu), Csaronda and Tisza (Tisa) Rivers. Silt and sand depositions, formed by rivers created a fertile soil, favorable to wild plants. Islands took shape on the surface of the swamp here and there, and the low areas formed permanent lakes (Lake Tyukod, Lake Ecsed Lake Ököri). Thus, the relief was characterized by a wide variety of forms and vegetation: turf bogs, lakes, swamp forests, and higher areas, called islands. The variety of vegetation generated a rich wildlife. The draining of the marshland, finished at the beginning of the 20th century, led to the extinction of the varied landscape, its place being taken by plough lands.

The life and occupations of the inhabitants was always dependant of the water level, and floods were able to destroy entire settlements. Before the draining, the agricultural lands were on the hills of the swamp or

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The swamp at the end of the 19th c.

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