Karcag, Zádor Bridge NCA

Although wetlands can be found here only occasionally, before the water regulation measures the capricious Zádor Brook supplied the marshes of the region with water. Ensuring transportation was always difficult, so the magistrate of Karcag city deemed it necessary to establish a stone bridge to  provide weather-proof  traffic all year round. The foundation-stone of the present bridge was laid down on 27th November 1806. The bridge was handed over to the public in 1809. It used to be a nine-arch bridge that served as a sample for the one built in Hortobágy village in 1833. The Zádor bridge endured the siege of waters for twenty years but the flood of 1830 swept away the two farthest piers. It gained its present form with five arches after reconstruction. Permanent waters have disappeared since then and the view of a bridge ‘cast ashore’ is perplexing those who visit the area.

The ancient monument of Zádor Bridge is situated to the northeast of Karcag city, along the Pest-Szolnok-Debrecen post-road. The bridge and the surrounding 71.5 ha alkaline grassland were declared protected in 1976. This way, not only the bridge is a valuable cultural asset, but also the traditional pastoral landscape demonstrated around it. 

2. Description and nature conservation of the area

The protected area is characterised by meadow and steppe solonetz type soil. After the water regulations, the region dried up, which resulted in secondary changes in soil characteristics. The climate is dry temperate, the average fluctuation in temperature is 24.3 Cº, the number of sunny hours is close to 2000 p.a.

Canal I. cuts across the area with a several hundred metres section. It was established at right angles to the Zádor Brook, so its water - quite unexpectedly - flows parallel with the bridge.

On the solonetz type meadow soil most typical are the alkaline Achilleo-Festucetum (Achilleo-Festucetum pseudovinae) and the Artemisio-Festucetum grasslands (Artemisio-Festucetum pseudovinae). Close to the bridge, especially on the ramps, patches of Kochia prostrata and Bassia sedoides turn up in patches. The Agrostio-Alopecuretum pratensis meadow is also characteristic of the wet, fresh parts. In the canals, plant communities are characterized by the lesser bulrush, the common bulrush and the common reed (Phragmites communis). Several protected and strictly protected bird species find favourable foraging sites in the region. In the surroundings of the canals and marshes, Great White Egrets, White Storks and Grey Herons search for food. Great Bustards and Collared Pratincoles nested on the arable lands several years ago. In Canal I., European Pond Terrapins appear in more humid years. From the bridge, one can often observe hunting Marsh Harriers (Circus aeriginosus), Common Buzzards, Kestrels and Red-footed Falcons during the summer.