Valeč
When you say Doupovské mountains, the name itself has a touch of mystery. The natural monument Valeč, which is located here, is part of the Hradiště military district and is not freely accessible, the area is part of the military training area. Despite this ban, the area attracts many visitors, but many of them seek to obtain local minerals illegally and damage the soil and contribute to erosion. The natural monument itself is interesting for every naturalist, in addition to various types of minerals, there are many protected species of animals and endangered plants.
Information for visitors
Interesting facts Valeč
You will find rare minerals and animals here
Valeč was designated a natural monument in 1992, a mineralogical site and some species of animals are protected here. This area gained fame already in the 17th century, when the so-called rodent from Valče, one of the famous European fossils, was found here. It was a squirrel-like rodent, its fossil attracting the attention of many famous naturalists, such as the Frenchman Georges Curvier, who was engaged in its research. This fossil is now in collection at Waldenburg Palace in Germany.
Collectors are looking for hyalite
Collectors who want to enrich their collection with hyalite from Valče are significantly damaging local sites. Hyalite is also called glass opal, it is the purest variety of opal. It can be colorless or slightly colored with ingredients. Although hyalite is generally not suitable for further processing, hyalite from Valče is of first-class quality and is used for the production of jewelery, it is fastened to metal and pendants or earrings are made from it. In addition to hyalite, there are also aragonite, scapolite, staffelite or apatite.
Plants and animals of endangered species
In addition to mineralogical sites, endangered or protected species of plants and animals are also subject to protection. In the beeches, you will meet, for example, spring peas, fragrant woodpeckers, poison ivy or goldfinches. At the edge of the forest grows, for example, a mountain cornflower, a forest vetch, a bald eagle or a gentian. Thanks to restrictions on the entry and care of the army, many rare species of animals have been preserved here, which are not as significantly disturbed by human activity as in other localities.
Author: Helena Syslová