Mohelenská hadcová step, National nature reserve in Mohelno, Czech Republic

Mohelenská hadcová step is a protected natural landscape with steep rocky slopes above the Jihlava River and a distinctive river bend called Devil's Tail. The reserve covers roughly 100 hectares and displays varied rock formations along with uncommon plant and animal communities.

The area received official protection status in 1933 after Professor Josef Podpera recognized its importance in 1914. The protection status prevailed against earlier mining interests that had previously claimed the land.

The name refers to hadec, the Czech word for serpentinite, the dark green to black-green rock that underlies the whole reserve. Visitors can see it as scree and rock outcrops on eroded slopes, where it accumulates heat and gives the steppe its particular character.

Visitors can use two marked walking trails: one follows the spring route at 3.3 kilometers, the other the autumn route at 3 kilometers. Printed guides are available at the southwest parking area to help with orientation.

The dark green serpentinite absorbs heat so well that on summer days the rock surface reaches almost 25 °C above air temperature, and winters here are milder than in the surroundings. The reserve also holds 91 of the 107 Central European ant species.