Travertinová kaskáda

Travertinová kaskáda (Travertine Cascade) is a small but remarkable protected nature monument on the western edge of the village of Tichá, in the Nový Jičín district of the Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic. Covering just 1.26 hectares at an elevation of 340 to 400 metres, it was granted legal protection in 1988 because of the unusual geological process still shaping it today.

How the cascade formed

The formation owes its existence to a mineral-rich spring emerging roughly 40 metres above the bed of the Tichávka stream, which flows at the foot of the slope below. As the mineral-laden water trickled and splashed downhill, it gradually deposited layers of travertine — a type of freshwater limestone also known as tufa — over the course of decades or even centuries. This slow build-up produced a porous ridge that now reaches up to 120 centimetres in height.

What makes it unusual

Unlike most tufa formations, which typically build up into gentle, mound-like shapes, the ridge at Tichá has developed steep, almost vertical walls — a rare configuration that sets it apart from comparable sites in the region. Along the crest of the ridge runs a narrow channel that carries the stream for about 120 metres before it joins the Tichávka. The porous travertine surface is thickly covered in moss, giving the site a damp, almost otherworldly feel, and in places the water appears to flow a full metre above the surrounding ground, carried along the top of the mineral ridge itself.

Care and preservation

Although the cascade is an entirely natural formation, the municipality of Tichá regularly maintains the surrounding area, keeps the site fenced, and looks after the grounds around it. In recent years, overgrown vegetation along the streambed has been cleared and the channel that carries the water has been cleaned out, so that the ongoing travertine-forming process can continue undisturbed.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Travertinová kaskáda located? On the western edge of the village of Tichá, in the Nový Jičín district of the Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic, near coordinates 49.58°N, 18.20°E.

Since when has the site been protected? It was declared a nature monument in 1988.

How large is the protected area? It covers 1.26 hectares, at an elevation of 340 to 400 metres above sea level.

Why is this cascade considered unusual? Unlike typical tufa formations, which form gently sloped mounds, this ridge has steep walls, with the stream running along a channel on its crest — in places flowing as much as a metre above the surrounding terrain.

How long did it take for the travertine ridge to form? The mineral deposition process took decades, possibly centuries, building up a ridge as tall as 120 centimetres.