Devínske Jazero (Devín Lake), a paradise of rich biodiversity

Devínske Jazero covers a surface area of twenty hectares, the same as the Veľké Hincovo Pleso in the High Tatras, the largest lake in Slovakia. The image of a ‘real’ lake becomes vivid in spring when the meadows are flooded. In the summer the water seeps away into the ground. The Morava wetlands are thought to be some of the best preserved in central Europe. Even before the fall of the Iron Curtain, their ecological significance came to be known, and after 1989 they became accessible again. Devínske Jazero not only distinguishes itself due to its rich biodiversity, but it can also boast of some illustrious protagonists. Every year between June and August, the white water lilies blossom, showing their most beautiful side. The fact that their allure changes according to weather and time of day was made evident by the 250 oil paintings of white water lilies by Claude Monet. However, this beauty can also be dangerous. A swimmer caught in its roots may not get loose again. The white water lily and the yellow water lily are also both poisonous. The rootless duckweed has a completely different personality. It is the smallest flowering plant in the world, has no roots, and is not poisonous. Arrowhead (Sagittaria) has completely adapted to its surroundings and thrives in the water as well as on land. The storks like to come foraging from across the Morava, where their nests are located in the oaks of Marchegg, and they hunt around in the soil here for delicacies, side by side with the corn crake, the local majordomo.