It is the southernmost part of moravian Slovácko. Podluží is the namesake of the deep pools - Luže, which are even now an essential part of the alluvial landscape. The town of Hodonín dominates as the natural center of Hodonínsko.
We are speaking about a paradise for fi shermen, hunters, biologists, and in fact for all who like the odd beauty of fl oodplain landscapes. It is a great place for ornithologists, who may encounter more than 250 species of birds. In regards to raptors, this area is probably the richest site in Central Europe. Regularly about eleven types nest here: red kites, sea eagles, royal eagles and sakers, to name a few. Even enthomologists say that the fl oodplain forests at the Confl uence are the richest site in Central Europe. The fl atheaded borer is one of the most beautiful beetles, more than 50 species of which live here, half of the species found in the Czech Republic. There are more then 49 species of fi sh living in rivers, pools, fl ooded areas after the clay extraction etc. Virtually everywhere in the vicinity of water we can discover the presence of beavers, which came to our country from Austria and found ideal conditions for life in the alluvial forests. Regularly in September comes rutting season for deer and in late October for fallow deer. The grunting and other sounds of deer during this time is one of the most unforgettable experiences of the autumn forest imaginable.
Podluží and Hodonínsko is a colourful area which combines unique natural and cultural values. Part of the area extends to the Lednice-Valtice area, and is located in the Lower Morava Biosphere Reserve, which also holds the UNESCO status. You‘ll fi nd here a lot of sites that are part of the Pan-European nature conservation Natura 2000. In the area there are wetlands, included in the international Ramsar Convention for the Protection of Wetlands.
Alluvial forests in the broad alluvial rivers Dyje and Morava belong to the richest ecosystems in Central Europe. In Podluží we fi nd one quarter of the total area of alluvial forests in the Czech Republic! The landscape, however, not only consists of the richness of plant and animal species, but also of the history of a phenomenon – the alluvial forest.
The local forest ecosystem began to develop after the last glacial period, about 10 000 years ago. Its present form, however, decisively infl uenced man. Characteristic parts of the forest with huge oaks emerged as the forest plan of foresters, therefore from 18 century this areas include spots with the clearings and young stands, which one will come and admire in the future. Enduring beauty and ecological stability of alluvial forests is guaranteed by plenty of water and equal representation of all ages forests.
The Indigenous alluvial forest was completely different from that which we know today. Its current form of oak and narrow-leaved ash was created by Leichtenstein foresters in the 19th century. They plentifully sowed acorns to ready agricultural land, that was in parallel use for the cultivation of fi eld crops for several years, until the forest prevailed over it. Nobody can guess today that the current fl oodplain forest, Podluží, with its majesty and the diverse communities of plants and animals is an ecosystem created by man!
According to the number of trees with hard or soft wood we can distinguish hard and soft meadow.
In the soft meadow, where there is an annual high groundwater level and frequent fl oods, there occur groves composed mainly cricket-bat willow, purple-osier willow, common alder and grey poplar. From bushes you can fi nd here ashy willow, black dogwood, and spindle-tree. Very interesting in Podluží is a rare occurrence of liana forest grapevine, the only known location of occurrence in the Czech Republic. In wet meadows, narrow-leaved ash, oak trees, elm and cord are dominant. In the drier sites common maple, European hornbeam and lime trees are common. The rich shrub is dominated by midland hawthorn, spindel-tree, snowball bush, red dogwood and more. A completely specifi c category is that of fl oodplain meadows, which have evolved in a number of types depending on the level of ground why rare species of insects and wood-destroying fungus are found here.
