THE TOURIST POTENTIAL OF THE MAIN HYDROTECHNICAL CONSTRUCTIONS FROM TIMIŞ COUNTY
IGNEA F., S., BIROU A., F.
ABSTRACT. The tourist potential of the main hydrotechnical constructions from Timiş County. The Timiş and Bega rivers spring out of the Semenic Mountains, respectively the Poiana Ruscă Mountains, and represent the most important water courses that drain the Timiş county area. Only one hydrographical basin resulted following our anthropogenic intervention on the two water courses, built over almost three centuries. The water transfer between the Timiş and Bega rivers is performed with the help of the hydrotechnical knots from Coştei and Topolovăţul Mic and through the connection channels that serve them (the Timiş-Bega Supply Channel, respectively the Bega-Timiş Discharge Channel). The adjustment of the water levels on the navigable portion of the Bega Channel is performed with the help of dams from Sânmihaiu Român and Sânmartinu Maghiar, while a part of the hydro-energetic potential of the rivers is revaluated through the hydropower plants from Timişoara and Surduc. Following the analysis of the tourist potential of the specified hydrotechnical constructions, we found that these may represent important attraction points from Timiş County, through the variety, the history and uniqueness, which may be introduced in a themed tourist circuit, entirely new for the Banat area, but also for our country.
Keywords: Timiş river, Bega Channel, hydrotechnical constructions, watergate, tourist potential