Na Vážkách Natural Monument - Komáří rybníky Ponds

Na Vážkách Natural Monument protects one of the two Komáří rybníky ponds in the heart of the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area, about 3.5 km west of Horní Slavkov and Krásno. Declared in 2017, the small 2.63-hectare site holds an unusually valuable wetland habitat and is one of the most important dragonfly localities in Czechia. Although the area has a strict protection status, it remains freely accessible and is used by locals and walkers as a quiet natural swimming spot with clear, peat-stained water.

The pond has a history reaching back to the 16th century. Together with the neighbouring pond, it fed the Puškařovský water channel and adit system, a clever historic water-management work that supplied mining operations in Horní Slavkov, once a centre of tin and silver mining. Today the mining past is felt mostly in the shape of the landscape and the still water among the forest, while the site's main value lies in its rare wetland life.

Dragonflies and Protected Species

The protected habitat is an oligotrophic, non-commercial pond with a rich community of dragonflies. Twenty-six dragonfly species have been recorded here, roughly a third of all species known from Czechia. The rare Leucorrhinia albifrons is especially important: the local population is estimated at around twenty thousand individuals, making this probably one of the largest populations of the species in Central Europe.

The wetland edges and peat-rich shoreline also support protected amphibians, including the common toad, smooth newt and alpine newt. The shallow margins provide suitable places for larvae, spawning and the quieter rhythms of wetland life.

What to Do Here

• Wild swimming: swimming remains possible even after the site was declared a natural monument. The water is clean, cool and naturally peat-coloured; the bottom can be muddy in places, so water shoes help.
• Nature watching: from late spring through summer, dozens or even hundreds of dragonflies may be visible above the water. It is a rewarding stop for photographers and nature-minded visitors.
• Hiking: the ponds lie on a calm edge of the Slavkov Forest, near walking routes linking Krásno, Horní Slavkov and the abandoned settlement of Třídomí.
• Cycling: forest tracks reach the ponds and are suitable for mountain bikes in dry conditions.

Practical Information

• Admission: free, open year-round
• Swimming season: roughly June to September
• Best time for dragonflies: late May to August, with a peak in June and July
• Bring: sturdy shoes for the forest path, a towel and optionally water shoes
• Facilities: none on site; there are no refreshments, toilets or formal parking directly at the pond
• Protection rules: no camping, fires, disturbance of wildlife or damage to vegetation. Stay on durable ground around the pond and avoid trampling the sensitive wetland margins.

How to Get There

• Location: Slavkov Forest, cadastral area of Horní Slavkov, 357 31
• GPS: 50.12175, 12.74459
• By car: approach from Horní Slavkov or Krásno, then leave the car at the edge of the settlement and continue on foot along forest roads
• Public transport: the nearest stops are in Horní Slavkov, followed by about an hour on foot
• Region: Karlovy Vary Region, Sokolov district, Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area