Zvuky Prahy / Sounds of Prague

The Komořany and Modřany ponds are a natural monument on the right bank of the Vltava, between Modřany and Komořany. The protected area with an area of 12.87 ha is one of the most recently declared protected areas in the territory of Prague. The purpose of protection is to preserve the floodplain ecosystem and macrophytic vegetation of eutrophic and mesotrophic waters. An atypical ecosystem for Prague was created by the decay and overgrowth of former flood defense constructions from the 19th century. The Vltava riverbed used to be much wider and the river had a much more fluctuating water level. With more water, the meanders were flooded, creating pools and smaller flooded areas. In the 19th century, therefore, shoot structures were built in order to narrow the riverbed so that the river would be navigable for rafts all year round and at the same time to protect the Modřany shoal from floods. At that time, the territory of the Komořany and Modřany ponds emerged, the basis of which is formed by the mentioned shoot structures and dams.