Nature Reserve Štěpán, Nature reserve in Děhylov, Czech Republic.

Nature Reserve Štěpán covers 45 hectares of a former pond, wetlands with pools, and a wet meadow in the Opava River floodplain. The pond, now close to a 'sky pond' fed by a 1.3 km stream from Malý obecní les, lies at 212–215 m above sea level. The Ostrava Svinov – Opava východ railway crosses the reserve west of the pond.

The area received protected status in 1994 to preserve its natural habitats for future generations. This step was part of growing environmental protection efforts in the region.

The blue hiking trail, cycle route No. 5 and an educational trail run through the reserve, whose boards explain nature protection in Ostrava and its surroundings. The pond is also a stopover for water birds on spring and autumn migration, and swans nest here.

The reserve has marked paths that guide visitors through the area, and you should stay on these to protect the environment. Wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared for muddy or wet ground depending on the season.

The pond was once far larger: an 1836 map shows a water surface of almost 80 ha split by a narrow dike into two basins, only one of which was called Štěpán. During the 1997 floods the Opava rose about 10 m and the Bobrovnický les diverted the flood current through the pond, breaching its southern dike by the railway.