Soos National Nature Reserve

Soos National Nature Reserve is a unique nature reserve located north of Františkovy Lázně. It's a bit like miniature Iceland. The educational, 1.2 km long trail leads along wooden paths at the bottom of a dry salt lake, in which a European rarity – the so-called diatomite shield – was created from the shells of lake algae diatoms. Now the lake is actually a large peat bog and salt marsh with reverberations of volcanic activity in the form of unique so-called mofets, from which CO2 is bubbling, there are also mineral springs, such as the Imperial Spring. Due to late volcanic activity, peat and other influences, the landscape in this reserve is like from another world, it has no analogues in Central Europe. Many species of protected animals live in the reserve and a number of important wetland and salt-loving plants grow here. At the entrance to the reserve there is a small geological park and museum.