Smraďoch
Smell it from far away
The Smraďoch (“Stinky“) Nature Reserve is an interesting forest and upland peat bog located 5 km away from Mariánské Lázně. If formed near acidulous groundwater springs associated with the fault line in the rock massif of the Mariánské Lázně Metabasic Complex.
The name of the locality comes from the hydrogen sulphide content in the gaseous seeps. Although the concentration of this gas is very low, its characteristic smell wafts a great distance. While the prevailing carbon dioxide is juvenile, i.e. emanating from the Earth´s interior, the hydrogen sulphide is produced by the action of sulphur-reducing bacteria in an environment of the bog near the surface.
The reserve is accessible via a nature trail made up entirely of wooden walkways. The trail starts near the road leading from Mariánské Lázně to Prameny, about 200 m beyond the former Nimrod Restaurant in the forest. A short detour via the blue tourist trail leads to the Farská Spring of acidulous mineral water.
