Cruising down the Vltava in the NP Šumava

The River Vltava springs in the forests of Šumava, at the site below the Mt. Černá hora near Kvilda, from where it continues to curl through the unspoiled natural settings of Šumava National Park. When the water level is sufficiently high, the upper stretch of the river can be boated from Soumarský most. One of the most amazing sections of river in this country, the stretch supports rare pearl mussels as well as a number of aquatic plants requiring the clearest water and not found elsewhere. Because the river lies within Šumava NP, boating is strictly regulated for watermen with regard to the presence of rare species of animals and aquatic plants. Here, the river flows through a fascinating peat bog of Mrtvý luh and - just before the Lake Lipno backwater starts - there is a number of oxbows with pools that again host very rare aquatic plants. The river and its surroundings form a real paradise