” Wetlands of the Turks “
is a protected Ramsar site with an area of more than 750 ha. They create a mosaic of wetland ecosystems of various types in the Turiec Basin. The Turiec River creates a meandering, natural riverbed with a slightly disturbed water regime, with preserved vegetation and, together with several tributaries, conditions the existence of valuable adjacent wetlands. The site is important in terms of the diversity of benthic organisms, fish, birds, wetland communities, biogeographical, hydrological and landscape. They consist of several protected and proposed wetland areas and several smaller units – national nature reserves: Turiec, Kláštorské lúky, Rakšianske peat bog and protected areas: Lake in Jazernica, Ivančinské močiare, Diviacke kruhy, Žarnovica.
On February 17, 1998, the wetlands were included among the Ramsar sites – i.e. in the List of Internationally Important Wetlands. They are of international importance due to the extraordinary diversity of benthos (tiny organisms that live at the bottom of waters), the occurrence of rare and endangered wetland plant and animal species and communities, unique ecosystems, as well as from a scientific and hydrological point of view. The Turiec is one of the few European streams that have preserved the character of a natural river to this day. It is an ecosystem of a foothill river with riparian vegetation and adjacent wetlands (tree and shrub vegetation in the floodplain, waterlogged meadows, peatlands, swamps, ponds) These wetlands create the necessary living conditions for plants and animals.
The educational trail “Turiec Wetlands” will take us to the area of protected Turiec wetlands and is suitable for hikers as well as cyclists. It starts near the village of Valentová, continues through Ivančiná, Diviacke kruhy and heads to the Rakšianske peat bog. From the first board to the last, it measures 23 kilometers.
During the route, tourists can see well-preserved riparian vegetation, many tributaries, dead branches, adjacent meadows, pastures, groves and especially a mosaic of wetland ecosystems, which include wet meadows, peatlands, reeds, sedge swamps, floodplain forests and shrubs, where rare and endangered species of plants and animals live. However, it must be said that in protected areas 4. and the 5th degree of protection, which means that nature conservation is superior to any activity here.
This trail was designed and implemented in 2008 by a graduate of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the University of Nitra, Dáša Banásová, in direct cooperation with the Administration of the Veľká Fatra National Park and the Turiec Bicycle Group JUS. In 2021, the information boards were reconstructed by the Administration of the Veľká Fatra National Park to their present form.
The cycling educational trail passes through the territory of two districts and the territory of the RAmsar locality – Turiec Wetlands, Turiec National Nature Reserve, Kláštorské lúky National Nature Reserve, Jazernické Lake, Žarnovice Nature Reserve, Ivančinské močiare Protected Landscape Area and Blatničianka Protected Landscape Area. There are several starting points according to the chosen cycling route. Individual cycling routes and their lengths: Turčianske Teplice – Martin /44.5km/, Košťany nad Turcom – Socovce /10.5km/, Blatnica – Mošovce /13.5km/. The routes are marked with the letter C, are marked in blue, green and yellow and are marked with the inscription Cycling routes to the Turiec wetlands. The transition time is individual. It is an undemanding self-service bike path, both summer and winter. 5 information panels have been restored along the route. Individual stops inform about Ivančinské močiary, Kláštorské lúky, NPR Turiec, CHA Diviacke kruhy and NPR Rakšianske rašelinisko. The natural science trail was opened in 2008.
Educational trail “Turiec Wetlands”
NPR Turiec – The area was declared protected in 1966. It was declared an NRP by Act 287/1994 on Nature and Landscape Protection. It was located in the then district of Martin. It was confirmed by Decree 17/2003 of 9.4.2003, effective from 1.2.2003. It was amended in 2006. The area is 892,899 m2, the area of the protection zone is 5,433,089 m2. The purpose of the declaration of the protected area and its protection zone is to preserve the natural character of the Turiec watercourse and to ensure the protection of the existing accompanying vegetation and several protected and endangered species of plants and animals. Protection of the section of the Turiec River between the mouth of the Bystrička stream and the mouth of the Toliarský stream in Dolný Turček, where there is the last original refuge of the rare salmonid huchen fish (Hucho hucho) in Central Europe. The site is an important landscaping element of the intensively used agricultural Turčianska Basin. Riparian vegetation is a nesting place for many species of birds. The National Nature Reserve is part of the area of European importance Turiec and Blatnický potok, which is included in the NATURA 2000 system.
CHA Ivančinské močiare – An area with an important function of refuge of marsh species of plants, waterfowl, amphibians, aquatic and marsh invertebrates and their communities. The protected area was declared in 2003. The area is 29,300m2. The subject of protection is the area with an important function of refuge of marsh plant species, waterfowl, amphibians, aquatic and marsh invertebrates and their communities. The protected area is part of the area of European importance Turiec and Blatnický potok, which is included in the NATURA 2000 network. It is located in the cadastre of the villages of Ivančiná and Slovenské Pravno.
CHA Diviacke kruhy – The protected area was declared in 2001. The area is 19,591m2. Protection of the gene pool site of marsh phytocenoses and zoocenoses, especially waterfowl, amphibians, but also marsh plant species.
Rakšianske rašelinisko National Nature Reserve – The area was declared protected in 1984, amended in 1988. By Act 287/1994 on Nature and Landscape Protection, it was declared a national nature reserve. It was confirmed by Decree 17/2003 of 9.4.2003, effective from 1.2.2003. It was located in the then district of Martin. The area is 55,310m2. Protection of moisture-loving and peat communities of the Turiec Basin. Preserved natural peat bog with the occurrence of rare, critically endangered and protected plant species. The National Nature Reserve is part of the area of European importance of the Veľká Fatra, which is included in the NATURA 2000 system. It is located in the Veľká Fatra National Park in the cadastre of the village of Rakša.
CHA Jazierko pri Jazernica – It is located on the right bank of the Turiec River right next to the village of Jazernica and is saturated with its groundwater. It is 35 m long and 25 m wide. It is the most important spring lake in the flat area of the Turčianska Basin with an area of 800 m2 with characteristic vegetation and fauna. Since 1975, it has been a protected area (Protected Natural Area) with the protection of peat riparian vegetation (sedge, reed, alder, willow).
Kláštorské lúky National Nature Reserve – a national nature reserve, declared in 1974, area of 86.0 ha. Protection of the rest of moisture-loving communities in the coastal zone of the Turiec River. Occurrence of several rare species of plants and animals. An important botanical site, a migratory site for migratory birds.
CHA Žarnovica – The area was declared protected in 1994. By Decree 293/1996 of 30.09.1996, effective from 01.11.1996, it was declared a protected area. The area is 18,507m2. The protected area consists of the meandering watercourse Žarnovica, which in the given environment represents a valuable landscape, biological and eco-stabilization element with the occurrence of rare, endangered and protected fauna, tied to the aquatic environment and with the natural character of vegetation. Protection of the remains of a natural foothill stream with coastal vegetation. The watercourse bed is meandering, there are willow and alder stands on the banks, which creates a suitable environment for the existence of endangered animals. The protected area is part of the Žarnovica area of European importance, which is included in the NATURA 2000 network. It is located in the cadastre of Turčianske Teplice, parts of Turčianske Teplice and Dolná Štubňa.
Edited by: Ing. Juraj Žiak
