Přírodní park Orlice, Nature park in Ústí nad Orlicí and Rychnov nad Kněžnou Districts, Czech Republic
Přírodní park Orlice is a nature park established in 1996 along the Tichá, Divoká and combined Orlice rivers, whose courses run about 200 km in total. It begins near Mladkov on the Tichá Orlice and below Zemská brána on the Divoká Orlice, and ends in Hradec Králové where a city road ring bridges the Orlice. Its boundaries mostly follow the banks, reaching about 1.5 km away, and up to 2.5 km in the Ostrovecký potok valley near Oucmanice.
The park was established in 1996 to protect river ecosystems that had been affected by agricultural collectivization. This creation marked a shift toward restoring natural environments in the region.
The park's name comes from the Orlice rivers, whose Czech name refers to the eagle (orel). Along the lower course near Hradec Králové, the combined Orlice forms meanders and old river arms that locals use for walking and fishing; the Kostelec nad Orlicí castle park is a protected reserve within the area.
The park's lower course near Hradec Králové keeps numerous meanders and old river arms, while the middle course has a narrow floodplain only a few dozen metres wide. The Ostrovecký potok valley near Oucmanice is the one place where the boundary reaches about 2.5 km from the Tichá Orlice.
The Orlice River flows without artificial regulation through this area, creating specific conditions that support endangered species like European otters. This uncontrolled waterway allows the ecosystem to sustain populations of these rare animals.
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