From a swamp to arable land: special review of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century

A retrospection on transformation history of the Osijek region environment by hydro soil improvement of the Vuka river basin and a reclaiming of the Palaca swamp. This paper deals with events in connection with access to hydro soil improvements of the Vuka river basin, a tributary of the Danube and its impact on the Osijek region environment (relief, vegetation, flora and fauna). The idea emergence and development about the very intervention were elaborated in which man has transformed earlier environment, created fertile soil and healthier living conditions in the Osijek region by carrying out various hydrotechnical operations (with cuttings, improvement of the river-bed etc.), and all as a result of human activities of long-term hydrotechnical river improvements (the Drava, the Vuka, the Vučica, the Karašica etc.) as well as reclamation of vast swampy areas, especially Palača and Kolodvar pond in the Vuka river basin. As hydro land improvements in the Palača swamp near Osijek are included in the paper, the research has focused on the Osijek region only