| Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area | |
| Iucn Category: | V |
| Location: | Czech Republic |
| Coordinates: | 49.9833°N 65°W |
| Area Km2: | 624.92 |
| Elevation Min: | 223m (732feet) |
| Elevation Max: | 617m (2,024feet) |
| Established: | 23 January 1979 |
| Operator: | Křivoklátsko PLA Administration |
Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area (abbreviated as Křivoklátsko PLA; Czech: Chráněná krajinná oblast Křivoklátsko) is a protected landscape area in the Czech Republic.
Křivoklátsko PLA lies in the western part of the Central Bohemian Region, only a small part extends into the northeastern Plzeň Region. The distance between the eastern edge of the PLA and the western edge of Prague is about . From a geomorphological point of view, most of the PLA is situated in the Křivoklát Highlands. The western part lies in the Plasy Uplands. To a small extent, the PLA extends into the Rakovník Uplands in the north and the Hořovice Uplands in the south.
Křivoklátsko PLA covers an area of 624.92km2. The highest point is the Těchovín hill at 617m (2,024feet) above sea level. The lowest point is at 223m (732feet).[1]
The axis of the PLA is the Berounka River. The canyon-like river valley with preserved meanders and valley floodplain is one of the main characteristics of the area.[1] Within the PLA, the Berounka has 17 left-sided and 15 right-sided tributaries, among which they are mainly small streams. The largest body of water is Klíčava Reservoir with an area of .[2]
The oldest geological unit, which forms the geological base of about three-quarters of the PLA, is the Barrandien Upper Proterozoic. It is made up of Palaeozoic sediments (shales and siltstones) that sedimented in a vast deep sea basin.[3]
Almost two-thirds of the area is covered by deciduous and mixed forests.[4] A typical feature of the area is the so-called pleš, which is a forestless area on some peaks with drought-loving lawns and shrub borders.[1]
Even before the formal demarcation of the borders, the nature area was called Křivoklátsko after the after the Křivoklát castle in the northern part of Křivoklátsko. In the Middle Ages, the Křivoklátsko forests were a royal hunting ground thanks to its proximity to Prague. The forests were therefore not logged much and remained relatively intact.[5] In 1977, the area with a mosaic of species rich habitats, mainly large stretches of broadleaf Central European temperate forests, was included among the UNESCO biosphere reserves. Křivoklátsko PLA was declared in 1978 and the protection started on 23 January 1979.[1]
The PLA administration is located in the municipality of Zbečno.[6]
Within the Křivoklátsko PLA, 27 small-scale protected areas were declared (4 national nature reserves, 16 nature reserves and 7 nature monuments):[7]