engleski

FLOODED KARST FIELD (POLJE): CASE OF DONJE BLATO ON THE ISLAND OF KORCULA

The polje of Donje blato is situated on the eastern edge of the island of Korčula, between the town of Korčula and the village of Lumbarda. Donje blato is typical karst polje, from geomorphologic point of view, surrounded by hills. It stretches in the dinaric direction (NW-SE) with length of about 1.5 km and width of about 0.4 km. It is separated from the Adriatic sea by hill of Pelegrin (42 m a.s.l.). The lowland part of the field covers about 0.4 km2, with minimum elevations from about 0.5 m a.s.l. in the centre up to 3 m a.s.l. on the edges. The topographic catchment of Donje blato has area of 7, 2 km2. In rainy period Donje blato is flooded due to weak drainage through underground. There is a "pool" (pond) in the central part of the field, which is about 450 m from the sea. „Pool" has diameter of 15 m and bottom elevation approximately zero (0 a.s.l.). It is connected with sea through underground and functions as estavel. Also, there are a few minor sinks and estavels on the border of lowland of the polje that play a non-negligible role in hydrological processes on concerned area. Donje blato is flooded every year. Range of flood depends on hydrological regime. Annual precipitation varies between 460 and 1300 mm. For average hydrological year, about 0, 1 km2 is flooded through winter. In rainy year up to 0, 3 km2 is flooded through winter and early spring. Therefore, boundary higher parts of the field are used for agriculture while central part is mainly careless. At the end of 19th century, a drainage canal was constructed through polje to the sea. The canal was destroyed probable in the 1920's or 1930's. Today, a new drainage canal is under construction, approximately on the same route as the old, with a view to protect field against flood.

karst polje; flood; Korcula; Croatia

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