Hrastovec Ponds

In the scattered settlement of Hrastovec, in the northern part of the wooded karst plateau Hrastovenjak, lie the Hrastovec Ponds, covering an area of 4.2 hectares. They originally belonged to the Counts of Herberstein, who also owned the nearby Komarnik Lake. The area is an important habitat for endangered plant and animal species; since 1992 it has been protected as a natural monument. The Hrastovec Pond is divided into four sections and is primarily used for sport fishing. The main catches are pike-perch, pike, and carp. Mature fish stock is also transferred to other ponds in the nearby area, particularly Lake Pristava and Radehova. The ponds are surrounded by cattails and reeds, as well as floating vegetation, which provides shelter for fish and other aquatic organisms from dangerous predators. Many ducks nest here, and the ponds are frequently visited by the grey heron. Among the plant species found here are the white water lily, the water chestnut, and the water soldier.