Řežabinec a Řežabinecké tůně

Řežabinec a Řežabinecké tůně (Řežabinec and Ponds of Řežabinec) is a national nature reserve in Kestřany in Písek District in the Czech Republic. It is situated among the villages of Lhota u Kestřan, Ražice and Putim. The area is protected due to the presence of valuable littoral ecosystems. This environment provides habitat suitable for many species of birds, who use this area for breeding, and other animal species. The protected area includes Řežabinecké pond itself, along with adjacent pools caused by the flooding of old medieval mining holes, and a significant archaeological site on neighboring Pikárna hill, where there was extensive human settlement in the Paleolithic and Mesolithic.[1]

Řežabinec a Řežabinecké tůně
Řežabinec pond
Location of the Řežabinec and Řežabinecké túně national nature reserve
Location	South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic
Coordinates	49°15′10″N 14°5′31″E
Area	110.667 ha (273.46 acres)
Elevation	378 m (1,240 ft)
Established	19 November 1949
Operator	AOPK ČR

The pond was constructed in a former river bed of the Otava River, and a wetland developed. The construction started in 1530 at the instigation of the Lord of Zvíkov Castle, Kryštof of Švamberk.[2] Gradually the water area became overgrown with littoral vegetation consisting mainly of reeds, and this valuable vegetation covered approximately 40% of the Řežabinec area.[2] However excessive fish production, mostly in the 1970s and 1980s, resulted in damage to the protected area and extinction of many species.[3] Nowadays reed coverage has declined to approximately 15% of the Řežabinec pond area.[2] As of 2011, the pond is state-owned and managed by Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, which seeks to restore species diversity and minimize negative human impact.[1]