Protected Landscape Area of Sárvíz Valley
The Sárvíz valley extends over Mezőföld from the Sárrét basin to the valley of the Danube at a length of nearly 100 km. A 20 km-long segment of the valley, stretching from Tác to Sárszentágota, is now the Sárvíz valley Landscape-protection Area. Created in 1997, the protection area covers 3650 hectares of land in a mosaic pattern, 157 hectares of which enjoy priority protection.
Until the beginning
of the 19th century, the valley had been a vast marshland, which prevented both
transport and agricultural cultivation in the region despite several
desiccation attempts as early as of 1772.
Today the branching
waters of the old Sárvíz are drained by two canals: the Nádor Canal on the east
and the Malom Canal on the west [a man-made extension to the river Séd]. In the
deeper sections of the valley, cut off from the Sárvíz by the draining
operations, a variety of lakes and temporary ponds were formed, whose
water-level is now entirely dependent on groundwater and the volume of rain and
snowfall.
Flora: The Protection
Area, whose flora is closely linked to the neighbouring Great Hungarian Plain,
boasts a number of protected botanical groupings, among which the alkali and
steppe associations are the richest in protected species and natural treasures.
Similarly, the artemisia-spotted alkali plains and the confined sandy meadow
associations also contribute to the protected values of the area.
The indigenous
marshland vegetation, however, has retracted and can be found in smaller
patches, around fishponds or in deeper areas.
Botanical research has highlighted 25
protected and highly protected species such as the bug-smelling orchid whose
population exceeds 100,000. This is also where the county’s largest population
of the highly protected early spider-orchid can be found.
Another
remarkable feature of the region is the forests, which cover almost one-third
of the Protected Area. Planted artificially more than a century ago they are
the largest coherent forests consisting mostly of indigenous tree species in
Mezõföld.
Fauna: The highest
zoological value within the Landscape-protection Area is attributed to
waterfowls. The fishponds and the water reservoir in the neighbourhood of
Soponya, which have a combined water surface of several hundred hectares, and
the meadows which are flooded with water periodically, are the favourite
resting, feeding and nesting places of waterfowls.
Of the nesting
species, the variety of herons is outstanding. Colonies of the largest night
heron, small heron and squacco heron enjoy the protection of the
landscape-protection area. The fishponds are also the favourite feeding areas
of the great white egrets and spoonbills hatching in Dinnyési-Ferto located at
a distance of 30 km.
Besides the colony
of several hundred pairs of black-headed gulls, Mediterranean gulls, ferruginous
ducks, pochards and tufted ducks are among the species that hatch around
Soponya. Starting from early summer grey-lag goose pairs leading their
nestlings can be seen regularly around the fishponds.
One of Hungary's
nicest lakeside birds, the avocet also hatches in small colonies on the
shores of natron lakes along with the little ringed plover sporting simple
feathers. The Kentish plover also makes its rare appearance here. The shallow
water of the ponds rock the nests of whiskered terns and black-necked grebes,
which sometimes appear in large numbers.
The migration of
the birds in autumn makes the range of species even more colourful. Wild geese
coming from the north like to use the Soponya water reservoir as a resting
place. The loud honk of sometimes 10-12 thousand geese can be heard even from a
long distance.
The birdland of the
natron lakes also offers a splendid view. Pintail ducks, grey ducks,
shovel-nosed ducks and teals are splashing in the water, and countless
lakeside birds show up on the shores. In the wet fields, several thousand ruffs
and lapwings, as well as hundreds of curlews look for food.
Preserving the
habitats of the species in the Landscape-protection Area is a top priority
for
environment protection, because - crossing through Mezőföld, which has so much
been disturbed by human activity - the Sárvíz-valley is a unique ecological
channel between the central mountains of the Transdanubia and the river Danube
which ensures an unlimited migration of flora and fauna.
Recommended route
The route offers
the sight of one the most spectacular areas in the Sárvíz-valley
Landscape-protection Area, the Soponya water reservoir, where visitors may get
a glimpse of the waterfowls living there almost throughout the year.
The area can be
accessed by buses running from Székesfehérvár in the direction of Soponya. Get
off the bus at 21 Petőfi Street (the first stop after Székesfehérvár). Then
walk back 100 m on the main road and take the asphalt road on the right that
leads to the water reservoir. Reaching the first intersection turn right, and a
short 200m walk will take you right to the heart of the Landscape-protection
Area where a comfortable path takes you along the embankment of the water
reservoir.
This artificial
water surface of 170 and the islands created in the lake provide undisturbed
nesting places for several hundred pairs of black-headed gulls and several duck
varieties, including ferruginous ducks that enjoy priority protection. The
great white egret, spoonbill, grey heron, greylag geese and various
grebes can be observed here while they are feeding. In springtime and
especially in autumn, the water surface is swarmed by a large number of geese
and ducks, coming from the north. In noisy flocks bean geese, white-fronted
geese, pochards, shovelers and numerous other bird varieties can be discovered
beside other species nesting here. From the bird watchtower located on the
north side of the area, a wonderful nice view opens up to the water reservoir
and its wider environs.
On the east side of
the water reservoir, the grassland still preserves the natural vegetation of
the one-time Sárvíz basin. There are steppe meadows at the higher levels, sedge
meadows at the deep points and reeds at the deepest areas. Look out for the
marsh orchis, a protected plant of characteristic this area, which grows in
these meadows. In early spring, lapwings, godwits and other sandpiper varieties
feed on the meadows, and above them the duck-hawks and common buzzards are seen
hunting from the air. If you are lucky, you might see Hungary’s largest bird of
prey, the white-tailed eagle.
The
path leaves the embankment and the water reservoir on its west side, and it
takes you back to the bus stop in Soponya. The tour route is about 5 km long,
and can be easily walked, so we recommend it to all interested in birds and
protected wildlife.
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