- Condition: MNH (**)
- Year: 2022
Wildlife around Mácha Lake - The martagon lilies (Lilium martagon) and The purple emperor (Apatura iris)
For almost 100 years, Mácha Lake and its surroundings have been one of the top recreational areas in this country, and it is currently probably the most famous summer recreation centre in the Czech Republic. It belongs to the Kokořínsko protected landscape area. The main attraction of the region is the large lake with the twin peaks of the Malý and Velký Bezděz hills with the ruins of a Gothic castle. The surroundings of the lake host a famous nature reserve with a unique wetland and peat-bog plants and protected and critically endangered species of aquatic and swamp animals. The adjacent Břehyňský and Novozámecký ponds are included in the network of the most important European ornithological reserves. Endemic and rare plant species grow in multiple protected areas, such as the Swamp, Konvalinkový vršek, Pecopala, Sluneční dvůr, around the ponds. The common butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) and the marsh orchid Dactylorhiza bohemica can only be found in that small area. Further rare plant species include Ligularia sibirica, wild rosemary (Rhododendron tomentosum), bog star (Parnassia palustris), globeflower (Trollius altissimus). Second only to the White Carpathians, the region boasts numerous orchid species, such as the lesser butterfly-orchid (Platanthera bifolia), fen orchid (Liparis loeselii), Dactylorhiza maculata. Surprisingly, the very rare common crane (Grus grus), which needs large wetlands and complete peace to courtship, nests in the region. Other rare animals, which can be spotted there, include bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus), common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), moor frog (Rana arvalis). The Malý Bezděz hill is the only place in the country to find the critically endangered Alpine longhorn beetle (Rosalia longicorn). Last but not least, a pack of wolves has been monitored in the region for the last few years.
