About this place
Uhliska is a nature reserve lying south of the village of Horní Štěpánov, in the Prostějov District of the Olomouc Region in the Czech Republic. The protected area covers wet and peat meadows in the headwater section of the Bělá stream, at elevations between 616 and 644 metres above sea level. Its boundaries form an irregular, fragmented shape, following the course of three main creeks that feed into the Bělá.
Why was this area protected?
The reserve was established in 1988 to preserve an enclave of wetland meadows with rich flora surrounded by farmland. It is considered the most valuable site of its kind in the upper part of the Drahany Highlands within the Prostějov region, and it is administered by the Regional Authority of the Olomouc Region.
What can visitors find here?
The wet and peaty meadows of Uhliska support an unusually high diversity of native plant and animal species. Protected plants recorded in the reserve include Siberian iris, imbricate gladiolus, Fuchs' marsh orchid, early marsh orchid, narrow-leaved cottongrass, bog myrtle, globeflower and bogbean. This concentration of species makes the reserve a notable reference point for botanists and nature enthusiasts exploring the Drahany Highlands.
How can the reserve be visited?
A green-marked hiking trail runs along the western boundary of the protected area, where an information panel introduces visitors to the site. This trail is the most practical starting point for viewing the wetland meadow landscape without entering the strictly protected core, which is important given how sensitive peatland habitats are to disturbance.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the Uhliska reserve located? South of the village of Horní Štěpánov, in the Prostějov District of the Olomouc Region, in the headwater area of the Bělá stream.
When was the reserve established? In 1988.
What is being protected here? Communities of wet and peat meadows with a high diversity of native flora and fauna.
Can the reserve be entered? Visits mainly take place from the green hiking trail along the western boundary, where an information panel is installed — the peatland core itself is sensitive and strictly protected.
What is the elevation of the area? Between 616 and 644 metres above sea level.
Why is this reserve considered exceptional in the region? It is regarded as the most valuable reserve of its type in the upper part of the Drahany Highlands in the Prostějov region, owing to the scale and diversity of wetland meadows preserved amid intensively farmed surroundings.
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