Nature Trail of the Haraszti Hills
The 3.5-kilometre-long Nature Trail of the Haraszti Hills is in the Protected Landscape Area of the Vértes. The Vértes is the middle section of the Transdanubia Mountains, situated between the ranges of Bakony and Gerecse. The Haraszti Hills’ estimated terrain elevation above sea level is 337 metres.
At the seven stops on this nature trail, near Csákvár, visitors can become acquainted with geological curiosities and the rich variety of rare Sub-Mediterranean flora and fauna which has evolved on the rough surface of the dolomite hills under different climates and in different soils and which has adjusted to extreme conditions. The Haraszti Hill has an extremely dry environment of Mediterranean-style group of dolomite cliff grasses and other species unique to steep dry hills with shallow soil. Such species include Cotinus coggygria, Festuca pallens, Dianthus praecox ssp. regis-stephani, Seseli leucospermum and Draba lasiocarpa. In areas where the soil is deeper, one can find species like Stipa eriocaulis, Chrysopogon gryllus, Cares humilis and Aethionema saxatilis.
In geological terms, the southern versants of the Vértes rest on a dolomite foundation, while in the northern flanks, part of the fundamental rock is Dachstein limestone. As the dolomite surface gave way to erosion and tabular cleavage, steep clefts, rocky walls, upthrusts, gaps and narrow creeks formed, endowing the Vértes mountains with a formidable appearance in spite of its relatively low rise above sea level.
This variety of ground features enabled the emergence of a multitude of plant species including many rare genera as well. Seldom can we see such diverse clusters of flora set apart by so little distance from one another. Groupings include flora such as karst shrubs, tomentose oak forests, hornbeam oak and beech forests that are directly bordering on each other, as mapped out by the varied features of the ground and the numerous microclimate zones.
Among the special features of the fauna of the area, certain birds of prey – such as the imperial eagle and the sakeret, in danger of extinction all over Europe – deserve particular mention.
Management challenges in the area include the appearance of invasive species, the impact of over-tourism at certain locations, and the impacts of climate change-induced extreme weather events.
The natural protection zone is open to visitors along the designated tourist passages. The rich natural and cultural heritage that the Vértes represents will only be preserved by the joint will of the society.
