Dragon lake
DANIELA FEO
Created on March 21, 2024
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Transcript
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Piana del dragone MAP
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DESCRIPTION The Piana del Dragone is located in the province of Avellino, in Irpinia, precisely in the municipality of Volturara Irpina, in a natural valley of the Picentini Mountains chain. It is a wonderful place, completely immersed in greenery, which every year enchants visitors with its extraordinary metamorphosis: from a boundless green expanse in summer, to the Dragon Lake in winter. In fact, in the winter season, rainwater tends to collect in the plain and forms a natural basin called Lago Dragone. SUMMERWINTER
A CHANGEFUL PLACE-PIANA DEL DRAGONE TRANSFORMATION There's still a magic left in the plain that makes the place enchanting and changes its appearance as the seasons change. In fact, during the winter the waters that descend from the surrounding mountains, completely fill the basin and form a small lake, called Lago del Dragone. It is a basin of karst origin that plays a fundamental role in the water supply of three regions: Campania, Puglia and Basilicata. However, during the summer the water level lowers and the plain appears to us like an immense grass of shining green, which can be crossed on foot, along a strip of land that the waters brings out. In this way you can find yourself in the center of a wonderful landscape of grass, trees, in the middle of the mountains that crown the plain and water that still fills the most depressed areas of the valley. SEASONAL ACTIVITIES The Piana del Dragone is a place to be lived and appreciated all year long. In summer, thanks to tours, hikes and a picnic area, it is suitable for an outing with family or friends. It is equally a spectacle in winter, when the landscape changes completely and the whole green plain, on which in the summer months you play football or lie down to sunbathe, becomes the bed of the lake, surrounded by deep, soft snow. During summer there is also a picnic area with a bar, where you can read, study, relax, or eat and have fun with friends. PIC NIC AREA
LEGEND-NON MATERIAL PRACTICES REPRESENTED IN THIS PLACE The plain and the lake owe their name to an ancient legend, according to which during the passage of the barbarians, a strange dragon, with three heads and a single eye, was locked up in a cave, near the three-arched sinkhole, terrorizing the town. The dragon had to guard an immense treasure that the barbarians had hidden in the cave. On a splendid May morning, a beautiful prince, called Gesio, reached the place and decided to free the town from that horrible monster by killing him. Dying, the dragon sank into the heart of the earth through three holes carved by his three heads. Even today in that point of the plain, three holes can be seen. The treasure was thus found, the town became enriched and expanded, while Prince Gesio mysteriously disappeared at sunset.Paper mache dragon made from proloco
CURIOSITIES OVER THE YEARS
- Since 1926 the military air force had considered the Piana del Dragone a suitable place to set up an aircraft landing field. In the first half of the 20th century, during the fascist regime, the Dragon Plain was even used as a runway by the Air Force of the Kingdom of Italy.
- Over the centuries, the valley has been subjected to multiple reclamation works, as well as improvements to the systems to drain the water that accumulates.
- Just outside the picnic area, there is a path surrounded by greenery, which leads to a small terrace where you will find the statue of a Virgin Mary (the feast of the Madonna della Piana is celebrated in August).
- The place has free access.
NATURAL FEATURES The dragon plain extends for approximately 1000 hectares and has an altitude between 660 and 700 m above sea level. The size of the lake is approximately 300 hectares; the lake has an artificial emissary about 75 meters long which brings the water into a natural sinkhole called the ''dragon's mouth''. The ''mounth'' is a natural hole that opened during the earthquake of 5 December 1456, which affected a large part of Irpinia.''BOCCA'' DEL DRAGONE
HISTORY In ancient times the plain was a swamp unsuitable for human life. The ''mouth'', despite its capacity, remained below the absorption limits and therefore there were dangers of flooding. The floods of 1851-53-54 are indelible in the memory of the inhabitants. Furthermore, the water was not completely disposed of and this made the environment susceptible to malarial infection. This led the people to invoke the King of Naples, Ferdinando Di Borbone, to act with reclamation works. Garibaldi interpreted the problem in the first Parliament of Italy. The first works date back to 1785, but they became satisfying only after 1911. Today this sinkhole, in normal conditions, is able to absorb 900 liters of water per second and represents the starting point of a complex underground hydrographic network. During the summer, it is sometimes possible to walk inside it, on a sidewalk over 70 meters long, while on the left side, below, the water flows continuously, producing a strange noise.
Lake dragon seen from above Footbridge on the dragon lake View at the end of the walkway View at the end of the walkway Sinkhole (mouth of the dragon)Visit of the sinkhole
What border crossing traces are there? Does this place reflect differences within the same culture? The plane of the dragon is a place that arouses artistic interest for photos and events. There are many tourists who stop by to admire the magic of the lake and take some pictures. This is a place open to tourists, which means that a lot of people from abroad can get to know it and its history. At the same time, people with different cultures contribute to modifying and enriching the place. Since it's been a long time since this place was generated, the inhabitants of the Valley have different habits, ways of life and beliefs compared to the past. Despite this, they feel connected to the Dragon plain, which reminds them of the origins and history of their homeland. Moreover, there are artistic events organized at the plain. In particular, in the summer of 2023 there was an event organized by the pro loco called 'dragonart en plein air', during which adults and children enjoyed observing the landscape offered by the plain and painting it.
Silvia
EMOTIONS Why is it important to you? How do the trace-chains affect our sense of belonging?
Natural places, like this one, are part of our homeland, which is full of natural landscapes. It is a place that belong to our lives because we have spent time there and had experiences there. Therefore, it has a very important value for us and for our sense of belonging to our region, because we know that all the people who live here are equally attached to this plain and it is a place that connects us all.
Daniela
EMOTIONSHow do you interpret this place in relation to your life? Why is it important to you?
The plane of the dragon is located in my country and is for me a very important place because it is definitely a symbol of belonging to my country, is a place to which all of us inhabitants of Volturara are particularly attached. I often go there when I need to distract myself and think, when I need a little peace of mind, I walk on the catwalk and at the end I sit and spend time here. In summer I like it even more because I spend a lot of time there with my friends, and very often we organize parties all together at the picnic area.
It is therefore a place that gives me a lot of lightheartedness and tranquility, in fact very often in spring with some friends we go there to study outdoors. For me it is a magical, enchanting place that manages to distract me from everyday life and for this reason manages to transmit me so much serenity.
Rosalia
EMOTIONS What is the effect that this place has on your life and the lives of people around you? Which feelings does it evoke?
I live about 12 km from the Dragon Plain. During the nice season, on weekends, my family and I usually go for bike rides, and often we go to the Dragon Plain. We bring sandwiches and have lovely picnics. It's a very relaxing, convivial, and carefree time. The view of the lake (when it's there) sparks the imagination.
It's a way to clear the mind and reduce the stress of everyday life, connecting with nature and its sounds and smells.
When I'm on the Dragon Plain, I really enjoy walking on the catwalk. When I reach the end, I have a feeling of emptiness in my stomach. Almost as if sinking into quicksand