Fucine Lake

The Fucine Lake (Italian: Lago Fucino or Lago di Celano) was a large endorheic lake in central Italy, stretching from Avezzano in the northwest to Ortucchio in the southeast, and touching Trasacco in the southwest. Once the third largest lake in Italy, it was drained in 1877.

Lore

The former lake is mentioned by Virgil in the Aeneid in book 7, in that it weeps for Umbro, the healer priest killed tragically in battle. (See line 7:882 in the Fogles translation).

Roman drainage

The Romans knew the lake as Fucinus Lacus and founded settlements on its banks, including Marruvium. It was the site of the Battle of Fucine Lake in 89 BC. However, while the lake provided fertile soil and a large quantity of fish, it was also believed to harbour malaria, and, having no natural outflow, repeatedly flooded the surrounding arable land. The Emperor Claudius attempted to control the lake's maximum level by digging a 5.6 km (3.5 mi) tunnel through Monte Salviano, requiring 30,000 workers and eleven years, but with uncertain success. Of the collapse of one of the tunnels Cassius Dio observed

Fucino (river)

The Fucino is a river in Italy. It is located in the province of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy. The river is a tributary of the Vomano. Its source is Lake Campotosto near the border with the province of L'Aquila. The river flows northeast before joining the Vomano south of Crognaleto.

References

Coordinates: 42°33′N 13°28′E / 42.550°N 13.467°E / 42.550; 13.467