13. Divoká Šárka (Wild Šárka) Nature Reserve (PR)

The area along the slopes (particularly the right-hand slope) of the Šárka Brook approximately from the Džb n gorge to Čertův mlýn. Cadastre: Prague 6 - Dolní Liboc. Area: 25.346 ha. Elevation: 255 - 360 m above sea level. Established by the Ordinance of Prague Municipality No. 12/1964 of November 10, 1964.

Valuable landscape element, significant for its geological origin and geomorphology (rock gorges in lydites originated epigenetically) with the remains of thermophilous and cryophilous flora and fauna.

Lydites exposed by the steep cut of the Šárka Brook with two gorges. Together with the Proterozoic shales they form characteristic rock formations with Ordovician strata in the east and local loess drifts. The first site on which the Archaean microfossils were found in lydites. Mosaic of soils ranging from mezotrophic to acid rankers to medium-nutritive brown soils and loess brown earths.

Fragments of bird-cherry and ash woods along the brook, kryophilous fern communities on northern faces, alison rock communities on southern faces. On top of the Koz kova Sk la the plateau and lydite rock margins were enriched with nutritive substances from ancient settlements; therefore they host also diverse species of fescue communities with various feather grass (Stipa) species, Koeleria gracilis, Leopoldiatenuifolia, Allium senescens, etc. Islands of Gagea bohemica and Veronica dillenii communities appear on empoverished rock edges. On oligotrophic lydites, i.e. on the Nebušick Sk la (Žab k) and the Dívčí Skok rocks, there grow dwarfed oaks with heather and hair-grass (Deschampia flexuosa). The almost vegetation-free boulder scree is a special feature of the valley. In the inversion, on shaded rocks and the valley floor, also the mountain species of mosses, Cynodontium montanum and Grymmia montana, can be found.

The sunny rocky steppes are the habitat of a number of steppe and forest-steppe mollusc and insect species, the cold valley floor and the foot of the northern rock exposure of montane species. From the number of molluscs mention should be made of the protected steppe species Chondrula tridens, Pupilla triplicata, Alinda biplicata bohemica, from the number of ground beetles (Carabidae) e.g. Ophonus nitidulus, Acupalpus interstitialis, from the number of leafbeetles (Chrysomelidae) e.g. Coprocephala quadrimaculata, Cryptocephalus elegantulus, from the number of flea-beetlesLongitarsus foudrassi and Chatocnema compressa, from the number of snout beetles (Curculionidae) e.g. Otiorhynchus velutinus, Omias rotundatus as well as the species from theTrachyphloeus family capable of withstanding extreme draught,Ceutorhynchus lukesi and Trichosirocalus horridus. Typical leaf beetles Lochmanea suturalis and Altica oleracea breddini can be found on the heather. The natural broad-leaved woods are the habitat of Calosoma inquisitor fróm the family of ground beetles (Carabidae) and Barypeithes tenex from thesnout beetle family. The species of the Acalles family testify to the continuity of local woods. The brook floodplain is inhabited by several species of the ground beetles (Carabidae), such as Trechus pulchellus and Amara nitida, from the number of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) mention should be made of the rare wetland species Prasocuris juncii. From the number of Hymenoptera the very rare wood wasp Konowia megapolitana was found in alder woods. The vertebrate fauna is considerbly rich. The Šárka brook hosts the gudgeon (Gobio gobio) and the roach (Rutilus rutilus); there are several species of amphibians and reptiles incl. the rare viper (Vipera berus), about 80 birds species, half of them nesting. Most frequent is the brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), the great tit (Pyrus major), the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), the chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita) and the red-back shrike (Lanius collurio). From the number of mammals the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is frequent. There are also minor carnivores and the fox.

The traces of centennial human influence can be observed most in the woods. The original woods were mostly felled (sprout management). At present due to natural succession and tree planting the area is covered with dwarfed heather oak, woods, hornbeam oak woods and primarily with planted mixed woods comprizing false acacia, pine, larch, red oak and spruce.

The area has been settled since the Palaeolithic. Above the Džbán gorge there was a prehistoric settlement as well as a Slavonic stronghold with still preserved mounds and the finds testifying to a number of agricultural culturesreaching back to the Neolithic. The area, formerly exploited for forest and agricultural purposes, is used for recreation at present. It forms part of the Šárka - Lysolaje natural park. It is necessary to eliminate successively the false acacia, red oak and spruce and enable the succession of native wood species on the screes.

Gerle (1807), Chlupáč (1988), Klika (1949), Kubíková (1982, 1994), Kubíková et al. (1982), Vaněk (1949).

Aerial view of the Divoká Šárka natural monument from the south, with the Džbán gorge in the foreground.

Rock formations in the Divoká Šárka natural monument consist primarily of Proterozoic lydites.

Protected areas

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