River confluences are well-defined points in terrain so I was highly motivated to visit this place where two important Moravian rivers join. Furthermore, it was also educational biological trip organized by my friend biology teacher.

Topologically it was a fully remote trip, i.e. deployment by train in Břeclav, tripping (in remote location) and rollback by train from Veselí nad Moravou (changing train in Brno).

Insects

  • Cerambyx scopolii
    • tesařík bukový
    • target that was not found
    • learnt that these beetles live in bark
  • Lucanus
    • seen only flying near treetop
    • largest beetle in the Czech Republic
  • Chalcophora mariana
    • krasec měďák
    • seen in Moravia Sahara
  • Myrmeleon
    • mravkolev
    • knew hunting tactics, now could see it in the wild
  • Philaenus spumarius
    • pěnodějka (not sure about the genus)
    • little balls of foam (nests) used as larva protection
  • Cynips quercusfolii
    • border parasite-commensal
    • creates balls on oak leaves
  • very large ants

Flora

  • Sorbus domestica
    • endemic tree to Tvarožná Lhota
    • universal fruit, historical trees
  • Iris, Orchis (after blooming, in Čertoryje),
  • Arum (probably)
  • Allium ursinum (not seen but smelled)
  • solitaire trees north of the confluence (near Pohansko and Lány castles)

Birds

  • woodpecker
    • quite a large bird that has excellent maneuverability between trees
  • storks
    • living on top of solitaire trees in the meadows

Culture and people

  • Prague–Břeclav train was full of people going to Bratislava
  • Slovak and Austrian huts with lift nets
    • didn’t know it has name, learnt from grandma, Czech word čeřen
  • vine cellars
    • little houses with blue band right above ground
  • cycling event in Strážnice (was it Mr. Zimovčák?)
  • castle in Veselí nad Moravou
    • it has large and groomed park, however, the castle itself is almost a ruin
  • regional dialect
    • particular endings and softer accent

History

  • Šimerník
    • a minor peak where used to be a Celtic oppidum
    • we slept there
  • Mariana boundary stone
    • near the confluence – not current border
    • it was lost and found in 70s by a local gamekeeper (after long search and many mosquito bites)
  • Hodonín
    • birthplace of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk
  • Mikulčice
    • settlement of Slavs during Great Moravian period
    • high density of churches
    • lookout tower (south horizon hindered by trees)

Geography

  • Moravská Sahara
    • sand sediments between Hodonín and Strážnice
    • adventurous bicycle ride
  • meadows in Bílé Karpaty
    • steep terrain, high “grass” (~70 cm) and isolated trees (apple trees?)
    • very high biodiversity
  • direct flow of Morava river
    • it used to be crooked with many meanders, it was straightened in 70s
  • polder
    • temporary dam that buffers water during floods
  • weather
    • confirmed prejudice that South Moravia has always nice weather
    • there were clouds, however, they were stable and we hit no storm in the end

Industry

  • Hodonín power plant
    • used to burn local lignite (not to confuse with lignin), now biomass
  • Moravské naftové doly
    • little pumps in the fields that mine oil into tanks which are fetched from time to time