Pískovna Žizníkov, Natural monument and sand mine in Česká Lípa, Czech Republic.
Pískovna Žizníkov is a protected natural area with sandy dunes and shallow water pools located between several villages. The terrain spans different elevations and was safeguarded after commercial sand extraction ended.
The area was a sand mining site for many years before extraction stopped. In 2018, the location officially became a protected natural monument.
The site demonstrates how an abandoned industrial area has become a home for rare species. Visitors can observe how nature reclaims empty spaces and forms new ecosystems on its own.
The location sits on the eastern edge of Česká Lípa and is relatively easy to reach, with a railway line nearby. Wear proper footwear since the ground is sandy and uneven in places.
The site hosts over a hundred specialized insect species, including beetles and wasps. Particularly notable are the critically endangered European green toads that thrive in this young ecosystem.
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