FUCINO, LAGO DI, a lake bed of the Abruzzi, Italy (Lat. Lacus Fucinus), 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 sub ject to great variations. As early as A.D. 52 the emperor Claudius, realizing a project of Julius Caesar, constructed a tunnel 31 m. long, with 4o shafts at intervals, by which the surplus waters found an outlet to the Liris. No less than 30,00o workmen were employed for eleven years in driving this tunnel. In the follow ing reign the tunnel was allowed to fall into disrepair, but was repaired by Trajan. It is still preserved but is no longer in use. Various attempts to reopen it from 1240 onwards were unsuc cessful. By 1852 the lake had gradually risen until it was 3o f t. above its original level. In 1854-75 Prince Alessandro Tor lonia, the great Roman banker, drained the lake at the cost of some £1,700,000, becoming proprietor of the site in return. 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 in. long and 24 sq.yd. in section.
See A. Brisse and L. de Rotrou, Le Dessechement du lac Fucin, execute par S. E. le Prince A. Torlonia (Rome, 1876) ; E. Agostinoni, Il Fucino (Bergamo, Arti Grafiche, 1908) well illustrated.