Cahnov-Soutok

Cahnov – Soutok Nature Reserve is a small, formally protected natural area located in the Czech Republic, in the South Moravian Region, within the Břeclav district. The reserve lies inside the boundaries of the larger Pálava Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Pálava), meaning its protection is embedded within a broader nature-management framework covering this part of South Moravia.

When was the reserve established?

The Cahnov – Soutok Nature Reserve was established on 28 December 1949. This makes it one of the earlier formal nature protection designations introduced in the region after the Second World War, indicating that the natural values of this site were recognized and legally safeguarded nearly eight decades ago.

How large is the reserve?

The reserve covers an area of 13.46 hectares. This is a relatively modest size compared to large national parks or extensive protected landscape areas, but a small footprint does not diminish its significance — reserves of this scale typically protect specific, well-defined natural features that call for precisely drawn protection boundaries rather than broad territorial coverage.

Where exactly is the reserve located?

The reserve's geographic coordinates are 48.6558, 16.9411. This places it within the Břeclav district of the South Moravian Region, an area known for a high concentration of protected sites, including the aforementioned Pálava Protected Landscape Area, within whose administrative boundaries Cahnov – Soutok is also situated.

What is CHKO Pálava and how does it relate to the reserve?

CHKO stands for chráněná krajinná oblast, the Czech designation for a protected landscape area — a category of nature protection covering considerably larger territories than individual reserves. The fact that Cahnov – Soutok sits within the boundaries of CHKO Pálava means the site benefits from a dual layer of protection: the strict, local status of a nature reserve overlaps with the broader protective regime that applies across the entire protected landscape area. This layered structure is typical of the Czech nature conservation system, in which smaller, strictly protected reserves function as core zones nested within larger buffer areas.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Cahnov – Soutok Nature Reserve established? The reserve was established on 28 December 1949.

What is the size of the reserve? The reserve covers 13.46 hectares.

In which region of the Czech Republic is the reserve located? It is located in the South Moravian Region, in the Břeclav district.

Is the reserve part of a larger protected area? Yes, it lies within the boundaries of CHKO Pálava, a protected landscape area covering a much larger surrounding territory.

What are the reserve's geographic coordinates? The reserve is located at coordinates 48.6558, 16.9411.