In the Rakytovská Valley near Harmanec on the edge of the Veľká Fatra National Park in its southern part, there is a slope wetland in which 5 species of amphibians breed – the mountain salamander (Triturus alpestris), the spotted salamander (Triturus vulgaris), the Carpathian salamander (Lissotriton montandoni), the spotted salamander (Salamandra salamandra), the brown frog (Rana temporaria), and occasionally the yellow-bellied toad ( Bombina variegata). In addition to them, a large number of insects such as dragonflies, awls, beetles, scabbards, podenkas and many others develop here. It is used as a food site by bats, birds, including black storks and river otters. In the past, it was subsidized with water from the slope springs and water from the seepage of the Harmanec stream. However, the stream was deepened during the reconstruction of the pipeline of the nearby small hydroelectric power plant and together with climate change (long periods without precipitation in combination with high temperatures) also contributed to the negative water balance of the site, and in times of drought we replenish water to the site from the Harmanec stream. The protection of the site from mechanical damage and interference is provided by wooden fencing, which due to moisture has outlived and ceased to fulfill its function after 5 years. Administrator of the area – Mestské lesy Banská Bystrica, s.r.o. – they sponsored us wood from thinning, which we debarked and used to repair the fence. On the way to the Rakytovský water trough, you can also stop at this beautiful wetland full of life and learn something interesting from the educational board located right next to it. An interesting fact that we have been encountering here for the third year is the planting of non-native white water lilies, which is occupied by an unknown person by repeatedly planting them in the wetland. Also today, we removed 5 plants, which were moved to eco-educational ponds for selected schools and to the Rescue Station in Zázrivá – we thank the unknown donor on behalf of the recipients and ask not to plant other non-native species in the wetland J. All work on the repair of the fence and cleaning the wetland from non-native plant species was carried out by the staff of the Administration of the Veľká Fatra National Park – M. Apfelová, M. Gejdoš, M. Macek, R. Reťkovský, A. Súľovský, J. Žiak.
Red dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea)
Alpine salamander (Triturus alpestris)
Text: Ing. Mária Apfelová
Photo: Mária Apfelová, Radovan Reťkovský, Juraj Žiak
