LAGO DI [

Lat. Lacus Fucinus]

See also:

• LAGO DI [Lat. Lacus Fucinus] FUCINO

FUCINO  , a lake bed of the Abruzzi, Italy, in the province of Aquila, 2 M . E. of the town of Avezzano . The lake was 37 M. in circumference and 65 ft. deep . From the lack of an outlet, the level of the lake was subject to great variations, often fraught with disastrous consequences . As early as A.D . 52 the emperor Claudius, realizing a project of Julius Caesar, constructed a tunnel 31 M. long, with 40 shafts at intervals, by which the surplus waters found an outlet to the Liris (or Garigliano) . No less than 30,000 workmen were employed for eleven years in driving this tunnel . In the following reign the tunnel was allowed to fall into disrepair, but was repaired by Trajan . When, however, it finally went out of use is uncertain . The various attempts made to reopen it from 1240 onwards were unsuccessful . By 1852 the lake had gradually risen until it was 30 ft. above its original level, and had become a source of danger to the surrounding countryside . A company undertook to drain it on condition of becoming proprietors of the site when dry; in 1854, however, the rights and privileges were purchased by Prince Giulio Torlonia (d .

1886), the great

Roman banker, who carried on the work at his own expense until, in 1876, the lake was finally drained at the cost of some j;I,7oo,000 . The reclaimed area is 121 M. long, 7 M. broad, and is cultivated by families from the Torlonia estates . The outlet by which it was drained is 4 M. long and 24 sq. yds. in section . See A . Brisse and L. de Rotron, Le Dessechement du lac Fucin, execute par S . E. le Prince A . Torlonia (Rome, 1876) . (T .