Podhradská tůň

Podhradská tůň is a small but ecologically significant nature reserve southwest of Bakov nad Jizerou, tucked between the villages of Podhradí and Dalešice in Central Bohemia. Covering roughly 3 hectares, the protected area was established in 1998.

What is a "tůň"?

At the heart of the reserve lies an oxbow — a former arm of the Jizera River that was cut off from the main channel by natural meandering processes. The water remained trapped in the resulting depression, forming a pool shaped roughly like the letter "U", with arms stretching westward and southwestward. Traces of this process, which unfolded during the Holocene, are still visible in the landscape today and form the main reason for the site's protection.

Why is this place protected?

Podhradská tůň ranks among the most important wetlands in Central Bohemia. Around the old river arm grows a riparian forest — a type of woodland typical of river valleys, made up of trees and shrubs adapted to periodic flooding. The surface of the pool itself is covered with floating vegetation, including yellow water-lily and bur-reed, which spread across the water in a dense, distinctive carpet of leaves.

The combination of still water, aquatic plants, and shaded riparian woodland makes this an exceptionally attractive habitat for amphibians. The pond and its surroundings serve as a breeding ground for endangered and declining species, for which suitable, undisturbed habitats are becoming increasingly scarce across the heavily farmed landscape of Central Bohemia.

The Jizera valley landscape

The reserve sits directly alongside the Jizera River, in a stretch where the valley still preserves fragments of its natural dynamics. Oxbows like Podhradská tůň form when a river cuts a new channel during floods, leaving behind an isolated bend of the old one. Over time, such a pool gradually silts up and shrinks, passing through successive stages of ecological succession — from open water, through floating vegetation, to reed beds and eventually riparian forest. Podhradská tůň currently sits in a phase where all these elements coexist side by side, which adds to both its natural value and its interest as an educational site.

Nearby landmarks

The closest reference point is Bakov nad Jizerou, a town less than 3 kilometers away, along with the village of Podhradí, which lends the reserve its name, and neighboring Dalešice. The road connecting these two villages runs right alongside the reserve's boundary, making Podhradská tůň easy to reach on foot or by bike for anyone exploring the area.

Frequently asked questions

What is Podhradská tůň? It is a nature reserve protecting an oxbow of the Jizera River together with its surrounding riparian forest, located between Podhradí and Dalešice near Bakov nad Jizerou.

When was the reserve established? The area was placed under protection in 1998 due to the natural value of this type of wetland habitat.

What species can be found here? Yellow water-lily and bur-reed grow on the water's surface, while the pool and surrounding forest serve as an important breeding site for endangered amphibian species.

Can you visit Podhradská tůň? The reserve lies along the road between Podhradí and Dalešice, making it easy to reach its edges on foot or by bike, though as a protected area it calls for care and respect for the habitats within it.

How large is the reserve? The protected area covers approximately 3 hectares.