Damalj


Damalj is a village in Croatia, under the Vrbovsko township, in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.

Name

Damalj shares an etymology with Damelj on the opposite side of the river.

History

In 1780, the Report of the Commission for the Introduction of Urbarial Organisation on the Possessions of Klanac, Damalj, Plešivica and Severin na Kupi, today with signature HR-ZaNSK R 6687, was drawn up. A 21 folio manuscript dated 1872 titled Darstellung der Entstehung des Baues... der Luisenstrasse togethr with a translation by I. Mikloušić is kept as HR-ZaNSK R 4572.
In 1860–1879, Matija Mažuranić wrote a 62 folio manuscript today titled Writings on the Building of Roads in Gorski Kotar and Lika, today with signature HR-ZaNSK R 6424.
In 1864, a rinderpest outbreak in Bosanci and Kasuni caused the Lujzijana to be closed to horned traffic for 21 days in December.
Josip Slivac of Damalj was listed by as a fallen antifascist soldier in WWII. Stjepan Canjar of Damalj was listed as a victim of fascism.
On 11 August 2012, drought caused a loss of tap water in Severin na Kupi, Draga Lukovdolska, Močile, Smišljak, Damalj, Klanac, Plešivica, Rim, Zdihovo and Liplje.
Damalj was hit by the 2014 Dinaric ice storm.
In 2015, the renewal of the old road from Damalj to Riblje by Severin was planned, but a dispute between the city of Vrbovsko and the owner of a field with part of the existing trail over the exact path of the road halted any progress.
In 2021, potatoes were planted by the city utility of Vrbovsko for the first time on the Damaljsko polje, for the purpose of feeding impoverished residents.
On 18 July 2023, the wind of a thunderstorm left Damalj without power.

Demographics

As of 2021, the only inhabitant under the age of 20 was a single teenage boy.
In 1870, Damalj, in Klanac's porezna općina, had 10 houses and 102 people.
In 1890, Damalj had 18 houses and 81 people. Its villagers were under Lukovdol parish and school districts, but were taxed by Klanac and administered by Severin.

Politics

As of its foundation in 2006, it belongs to the of Severin na Kupi.

Sports

The "Gorski Kotar Bike Tour", held annually since 2012, sometimes goes through Damalj, such as in the first leg for 2024.

Infrastructure

The water storage unit between Severin na Kupi and Damalj is responsible for Draga Lukovdolska, Močile, Smišljak, Klanac, Plešivica, Rim, Zdihovo and Liplje. The water pumping station Klanac affects the water storage units in Severin and Gornji Kalanji.