Sinjsko Polje () is a

polje A polje, also called karst polje or karst field, is a large flat plain found in karstic geological regions of the world, with areas usually in the range of 5–400 km2 (2–154 sq mi). The name derives from the Slavic languages, ...

(karstic field) in the inner

Dalmatia Dalmatia (; ; ) is a historical region located in modern-day Croatia and Montenegro, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Through time it formed part of several historical states, most notably the Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Croatia (925 ...

region of

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

, the fifth largest in Croatia, covering an area of . The

Cetina River The Cetina () is a river in southern Croatia. It has a length of and its basin covers an area of . From its source, Cetina descends from an elevation of above sea level to the Adriatic Sea. It is the most water-rich river in Dalmatia.Naklada Nap ...

flows along the edge of the field, and receives a number of tributaries. The field is long and up to wide. It is enclosed by the slopes of Visoka, Svilaja,

Dinara Dinara is a mountain range in the Dinaric Alps, located on the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. It has four major mountains or peaks, from north-west to south-east: * Ilica or Ujilica (1,654 m) * Sinjal or Dinara (1,831 m), epony ...

, and Kamešnica from west to northeast, and some lower hills to the southwest. In the past, the field was periodically flooded because of the abundant flow of water from the river and numerous springs, but the construction of

drainage canals Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of a surface's water and groundwater, sub-surface water from an area with excess water. The internal drainage of most agricultural soils can prevent severe Waterlogging (agriculture), waterlogging ( ...

and interventions on the Cetina, with the regulated artificial

Peruća Lake Lake Peruća or Peruča ( or ') is the second largest artificial lake in Croatia, after Lake Dubrava. It is located in the Split-Dalmatia County. Location Located in inland Dalmatia, south of the spring (hydrosphere), source of the River Cetina, n ...

located upstream, enabled the development of agriculture. The canals are in total long; even though around could be irrigated, only a quarter of this area is systematically irrigated. Conditions for a stable, high-yielding and crop-intensive production are yet to be achieved. The climate is Mediterranean-mountainous, with strong winter gusts of dry and cold air, frequent temperature inversions, summer droughts, and occasional heavy rainfall. There are several fruitful archaeological sites from the Neolithic period along the Cetina at Sinjsko Polje. Remains of huts and valuable, rare finds have been found, which show that the Cetina River was an important area in the interior of the Adriatic hinterland since prehistoric times. Several settlements are located along the edge of the field:

Sinj Sinj () is a List of cities and towns in Croatia, town in the continental part of Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. As of the 2021 Croatian census, 2021 census, the population was 23,500 people, of which 10,800 inhabited its urban core. Sinj is k ...

as the center of the region of Cetinska Krajina, Glavice, Brnaze,

Hrvace Hrvace is a village and a municipality in Croatia in the Split-Dalmatia County. Demographics In the 2011 census, it had a total population of 3,617, in the following naselja, settlements: * Dabar, Split-Dalmatia County, Dabar, population 22 * D ...

, Otok,

Trilj Trilj () is a Cities of Croatia, town and Naselje, settlement in inland Dalmatia, Croatia. It is located northeast of Split (city), Split. In 2021, its population was 8182. Trilj was a traffic hub in Roman Dalmatia, Roman times, when a stone br ...

, Košute,

Turjaci Turjaci is a settlement in the City of Sinj in Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hung ...

. The field hosts a grass strip that was once the main airport for the city of

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, enter ...

. Nowadays, the airport is used for

gliding Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sports, air sport in which pilots fly glider aircraft, unpowered aircraft known as Glider (sailplane), gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmospher ...

and

parachuting Parachuting and skydiving are methods of descending from a high point in an atmosphere to the ground or ocean surface with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or multiple parachutes. For hu ...

Gallery

File:Sinjsko polje.jpg, Morning mist over Sinjsko polje File:Cetina River at Sinjsko Polje.jpg,

at Sinjsko polje

References

{{Dinaric Alps' karst fields Plains of Croatia Geology of Croatia Sinj