The Smraďoch (“Stinky“) Nature Reserve is an interesting forest and upland peat bog located 5 km away from Mariánské Lázně. If formed near acidulous groundwater springs associated with the fault line in the rock massif of the Mariánské Lázně Metabasic Complex.
Smraďoch mini-educational trail
The name of the locality comes from the hydrogen sulphide content in the gaseous seeps. Although the concentration of this gas is very low, its characteristic smell wafts a great distance. While the prevailing carbon dioxide is juvenile, i.e. emanating from the Earth´s interior, the hydrogen sulphide is produced by the action of sulphur-reducing bacteria in an environment of the bog near the surface.
The reserve is accessible via a nature trail made up entirely of wooden walkways. The trail starts near the road leading from Mariánské Lázně to Prameny, about 200 m beyond the former Nimrod Restaurant in the forest. A short detour via the blue tourist trail leads to the Farská Spring of acidulous mineral water.
Photo 1: Wooden path leading to the springPhoto 2: Bubbling carbon dioxide gasPhoto 3: General view of the spring