Living with the Lake, Living Without the Lake An Introduction into the Research of the Way of Life by the Intermittent Karstic Lakes Petelinjsko Jezero and Palško Jezero

Abstract

Petelinjci in Palčani so se skozi stoletja prilagajali spremenljivi naravi presihajočih jezer. Obe jezeri sta poplavljeni le del leta, tako da travnate površine v poletnem času praviloma omogočajo vsakoletni pridelek sena. Palško jezero in obrežje Petelinjskega jezera sta primerna za pašo. V gospodarskem pogledu sta jezeri bili in sta še vedno vezani na vzrejo živine. Kmetovanje na tem področju v današnjem času ne prinaša dobička, zato se bo v prihodnosti krajina ohranila taka kot je le, če bo država namenila kmetijski dejavnosti dovolj denarne pomoči. Na jezero je bila do srede dvajsetega stoletja vezana še ena gospodarska dejavnost, in sicer ledarstvo. Dodatni dopolnilni dejavnosti, ki sta pogojeni z jezerom, sta lov in nabiralništvo. Petelinjci in Palčani so bili v preteklosti prisiljeni svoji jezeri deliti z avstroogrsko, italijansko in jugoslovansko vojsko, ki so za seboj pustile še danes vidne sledi. Jezeri s svojo nenavadno in nadvse slikovito naravo domačinom predstavljata kraj miru in sprostitve.

People of Petelinje and Palčje have adapted to the ever-changing nature of the intermittent karstic lakes through the centuries. Both lakes are filled with water only a part of the year, so that the grassy areas usually provide a yearly harvest of hay. Palško jezero and the shores of Petelinjsko jezero are suitable for pasturing. Economically the lakes were and still are connected with raising livestock. Agriculture is now no longer profitable, so the only way to preserve the land is by the state devoting enough money for agriculture. The lake was connected to another economic activity until the middle of the 20th century, ice making. Additional supplementary activities dependent on the lake are hunting and gathering. Petelinje and Palčje villagers had to share their lakes with the Austro-Hungarian, Italian and Yugoslav armies in the past; they left traces that can still be seen today. The lakes, with their unusual and highly picturesque nature, represent a place of peace and relaxation to the locals.