Národní park Šumava
With an area of 69,030 hectares, Národní park Šumava is our largest national park. It can be found in South and West Bohemia. From Železná Ruda, it follows the state border with Germany, later with Austria, and from the eastern side, it is bordered by the Lipenská přehrada. It extends across the territory of two regions, namely the Plzeňský kraj and the Jihočeský kraj, and three districts: Český Krumlov, Prachatice, and Klatovy. Together with the German Národní park Bavorský les, it forms the largest continuously forested area in Central Europe. Thanks to this, it is also referred to as the "green heart of Europe." It was declared a national park on 20 March 1991; a year earlier, the territory was inscribed on the UNESCO list as the Šumava biosphere reserve.
Šumavský národní park is part of the Chráněná krajinná oblast Šumava. Within the territory of the national park, there are several dozen nature reserves and smaller protected areas. The main reason for declaring the national park was, in particular, the protection of biological communities – spruce forests, primeval forest stands, peat bogs, or corrie lakes. One may also find several endangered animal species here, such as the Eurasian lynx, the western capercaillie, or the Eurasian elk. There are also some insect species that cannot be seen anywhere else but in the local peat bogs.
Národní park Šumava itself can be divided into several separate areas: Šumavské pláně, Železnorudská hornatina, Boubínská hornatina, Želnavská hornatina, and Trojmezenská hornatina with the Vltavská brázda. In terms of altitude, it extends from 600 to 1,378 metres above sea level. The highest point is the mountain Plechý.
According to the method of protection, the park is divided into 3 zones: strict nature, managed nature, and peripheral. Included in the strict nature zone are the most valuable primeval forests and wetlands, which are protected from human influence. In the managed nature zone, one finds the largest part of the forest ecosystems, and in the peripheral zone, there are already places that people may use for tourism, recreation, or, for example, agriculture. Even in the peripheral zone, however, there are certain rules that protect nature from the devastating influence of certain activities.
Nevertheless, Národní park Šumava still has many "enemies." The greatest natural enemy has long been the bark beetle, which is causing significant calamities not only in the Šumava region but throughout our entire republic. Humans also have a negative impact on the local nature. This primarily involves timber harvesting that is not always justified, the construction of tourist centres, or the activities of canoeists on the upper reaches of the Vltava. For this reason, nature conservationists and ecologists are very active here, and one can regularly see them in television reports. The activities within the national park are also overseen by the Správa Národního parku Šumava.
From a hydrological perspective, Šumavský národní park is a significant location. One can find natural watercourses, glacial lakes, and man-made structures here. The territory belongs mainly to the North Sea watershed, with a smaller part belonging to the Black Sea. The Vydra river as well as the longest Czech river, the Vltava, begin their journey here. It rises below Černá hora as the Černý potok and gradually expands with other streams. Near Volary, it is already the true Vltava.
There are three glacial lakes here, namely Plešné jezero, Prášilské jezero, and jezero Laka. On the eastern edge of Národní park Šumava lies the Lipenská přehrada, which was built between 1950 and 1960 as the first stage of the Vltava cascade near Lipno nad Vltavou. Today, it is a frequent destination for holidaymakers, especially during the summer period.
Národní park Šumava itself is also a very popular location for tourists. Every year, it is visited by some two million visitors. In the winter period, they are mainly attracted by ski resorts such as Skiareál Špičák, which is the largest in the Plzeňský kraj, or the family-favourite Skiareál Lipno. Here, one may also try out an 11-kilometre-long ice skating track. During the summer, places such as the source of the Vltava or the village of Modrava attract visitors. The latter is well-known and popular thanks to a crime series set in this environment, as are the climbs to the mountains Plechý, Pancíř, or Špičák.
So, has this article captured your interest? We invite you to set out and discover the places we have mentioned as well. Find suitable accommodation in Národní park Šumava and begin filling the pages of your travel diaries. Quality accommodation in Šumava can be found in villages such as Kvilda, Nové Hutě, Kubova Huť, or Stachy. However, there is much, much more. Our free search agent will facilitate your search and save you time. So do not hesitate and set off for Šumava!
