FATNIČKO POLJE - ФАТНИЧКО ПОЉЕ
The Devon Karst Research Society & Speleološko Društvo "Zelena Brda"
Istočna Hercegovina, Bosna i Hercegovina.
Источна Херцеговина, Босна и Херцеговина,
FATNIČKO POLJE - ФАТНИЧКО ПОЉЕ
Fatnica Polje, Eastern Herzegovina, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
updated 18 February 2006. Section 4.0.    RIVERS & STREAMS  -  RIJEKE i POTOCI  -  РИЈEКE и ПОТОЦИ :
FATNIČKO POLJE - ФАТНИЧКО ПОЉЕ

The "Obod" River.

 There are several very small permanent surface streamlets fed by the numerous permanent A-Type (Authigenic) local karst springs on the north side of the polje. During the height of the summer months, these streamlets are reduced to appearing as "damp areas" on the polje floor.
However, the intermittent, full-sized river derived from the output of the three main estavelles in the Upper Polje, is of an impressive size and has a major annual impact on the polje, not least of which is renewing the natural nutrients in the soils of the polje-floor.

4.1.    THE "OBOD" RIVER  -  RIJEKA "OBOD"  -  РИЈEКА "ОБОД" :
Gašparović (1979) refers to the streamway in Fatničko Polje as Fatničke rijeke (Fatnica River). In all other texts, it has been referred to as the "Oboda" Stream. There are never any true permanent "river size" watercourses in the polje.
This only appears as a complete river when the "Obod" Estavelle is functioning as an overflowing spring. At a distance of about ?? metres along its riverbed from the source, its flow can also be contributed to by the combined output of the "Pribabići" Estavelle and / or the "Baba Jama" Estavelle. Additionally, its flow is augmented by the many inputs derived in the Upper Polje from the brooks and streams of the various small but permanent A-Type (Authigenic) Karst Springs.

FP4.1.1. (above-left). 
Looking in an upstream (westerly) direction along the meandering line of the Obod Riverbed from the north-east towards the mid-polje area and Humac. The "Obod" River, contains a few standing pools of water.
(Photo: B. Lewarne, 05 March 2002.)
FP4.1.2. (above-right). 
Looking in an upstream (north-westerly) direction from the "Pasmica Ponor", a view of the almost dry streambed of the "Obod" River, containing a few standing pools of water.
(Photo: Dubravko Kurtović, 11 November 2001.)

The flow of the natural watercourse can also be added to by the input of water coming out of the artificial tunnel of the HET Co's HPP Fatnica installation in the west of the Polje. Effectively, this tunnel is draining the flood waters of the adjacent Dabarsko Polje into Fatničko Polje.
The measured length of the "Obod" River streambed from its source in the Upper Polje to its termination at the "Pasmica" Ponor in the Lower Polje is caa 6800 metres.
FATNIČKO POLJE - ФАТНИЧКО ПОЉЕ

The "Baba jama" and "Pribabići" Streams

 4.2.    THE "BABA JAMA" STREAM  -  POTOK "BABA JAMA"  -  ПОТОК "БАБА ЈАМА" :
This only appears as a complete river when the "Baba Jama" Estavelle is functioning as an overflowing spring. Its flow is also contributed to by the output of the "Pribabići" Estavelle.

FP4.2.1. (above-left).
Looking in a downstream (westerly) direction, a view of the meandering, dry streambed of the Estavela "Baba Jama".
(Photo: Bogdan Prelević, 05 March 2002.Digital Sony FD92.)
FP4.2.2. (above-right).
Looking in an upstream (easterly) direction, a typical view of the dry streambed downstream of the Estavela "Baba Jama".
The figures in the foreground are Dubravko Kurtović and Milorad Kličković.
(Photo: Bogdan Prelević, 05 March 2002. Digital Sony FD92.).

The length of this comparatively short streambed from its source in the Upper Polje to its confluence with the "Obod" Streambed is caa 900 metres. This distance excludes the input from the ephemeral "Pribabići" Estavelle.
The Photos immediately above indicates the condition of the surface streamway in March 2002, just downstream of the "Baba Jama" Estavelle after a long, dry summer and an almost equally dry winter. At the same the image was recorded, the Obod Estavelle was almost full of water, being about 10m below the top of its dam.
FATNIČKO POLJE - ФАТНИЧКО ПОЉЕ

Potok za Izvor "Veliki Jastrebinjak" .

 4.3.    MINOR STREAMS.:
A typical example of a small permanent stream created by one of the A-Type (Authigenic) local karst springs rising at the base of the northern edge of the polje is that created by Izvor "Veliki Jastrebinjak". This shallow, narrow and very meandering stream-bed is carved into the Eocene Flysh deposits forming the Upper Polje floor.

FP4.3.1.
Looking in a downstream (southerly) direction from the north perimeter of the polje, a view of a typical permanent streambed - here created by the outflow of Izvor "Veliki Jastrebinjak".
(Photo: B. Lewarne, 02 March 2002. Digital Sony FD92.).
FATNIČKO POLJE - ФАТНИЧКО ПОЉЕ We hope to capture images of the major streamways when they are hydrologically active in the future. The practical problem in doing so relates only to "opportunity"!
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