A wall of stone stands before us. It is not just any wall. This is p\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Podolsk\u00fd profil. It is a window into Earth’s ancient past.
P\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Podolsk\u00fd profil is a natural monument in Prague. It was established in 1988. This site reveals sediments from the Paleozoic Era. Specifically, it shows the boundary between the Silurian and Devonian periods.
Imagine this: millions of years ago, this area was underwater. Seas teemed with life. Then, layer upon layer of sediment accumulated. These layers eventually hardened into rock. Today, p\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Podolsk\u00fd profil allows us to see these ancient seabeds.
Francis Zeno first noted the limestone quarry here in 1770. He even described the first fossils. Quarrying continued until 1941. For a time, sheep and goats grazed on the slopes. Construction of the Podol\u00ed swimming stadium began in 1959. It still operates today.
The area around p\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Podolsk\u00fd profil was fenced off. This was to prevent people from entering the pool area without paying. In 2009, the old fence was removed. This made p\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Podolsk\u00fd profil accessible to the public.
During the past regime, there was a plan to build nuclear shelters. These shelters were near the Czech Television complex. Because of this, p\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Podolsk\u00fd profil was preserved. The monument spans 2.71 hectares.
Geologically, the area belongs to the Barrandien region. It is part of the Bohemian Massif. The monument is an important reference profile. It shows the Silurian-Devonian boundary. One can observe the transition between these periods. It also provides access to the Po\u017e\u00e1ry Formation. Many fossils are found within.
The oldest layer is the P\u0159\u00eddol\u00ed Formation. Above it lie the Lochkov and Prague Formations. The total thickness is about 26 meters. This suggests the area was once an elevated part of the seabed.
Joachim Barrande studied p\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Podolsk\u00fd profil. He enriched his collections with fossils. These included mollusks, cephalopods, and trilobites. The site also contains the oldest fish remains in the Czech Republic.
Fossils found here include Dualina and Antipleura bohemica. The trilobite Warburgella rugosa is also present. In younger Devonian layers, Paranowakia bohemica appears. Brachiopods, bryozoans, and corals are also found.
The steep rock faces support Hercynian vegetation. This is mainly composed of Festuca pallens. These communities cover about 40% of the area. Dry grasslands cover another 15%.
Several protected plant species grow here. These include Erysimum crepidifolium and Seseli hippomarathum. Non-native black pine trees are also present.
The upper part of p\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Podolsk\u00fd profil transitions into a park. This park forms part of the monument’s protective zone. Nearby lies the Dvoreck\u00e9 str\u00e1n\u011b natural monument. It features a lime tree grove with white helleborine orchids.
The fauna of p\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Podolsk\u00fd profil is diverse. Sheltered by shrubs, small animals thrive. The smooth snail Cochlodina laminata lives here. Rare invertebrates inhabit the rocky outcrops. These include wasps like Auplopus rectus and Belomicrus italicus. The wasp Pemphredon podagrica was first found in the Czech Republic here.
Birds such as the sparrowhawk hunt here. Other birds include the red-backed shrike and green woodpecker. 491 butterfly species have been recorded around p\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Podolsk\u00fd profil.
P\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Podolsk\u00fd profil protects a unique geological site. It supports a wide range of plant and animal life. This area offers a glimpse into Prague’s ancient environment. It is a place where geology and nature meet.