Both these wharfs are covered with asphalt. Important parts of water basin are draining troughs which provide the uptake of water to underlying sediments. From the point of view of ornithologists are important two localities. On the right side of Sĺňava is a special area where grow water-liking plants, mainly common reed, Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia and many others. By isolating this area from erosive soils of Sĺňava, by building of the dam and by active planting of vegetation was formed very important, although small locality for nesting of birds called Výsadba. The second locality is artificial gravel island Čajka (gull), which was built in year 1976 almost in the very center of the water basin. In present days it is 2,8 ha large and it became very important place for homes of many birds. The vegetation around Sĺňava is formed mainly of willow-poplar woods. Dominant wood there is Salix sp. Part of the area has meadow character and it is used despite the ban for gazing of animals. On the shores of Sĺňava are mainly planted with smaller types of willows (Salix sp.), which are regularly cut. The left shore is the rest of hydrophilic forest which were here long time ago. Hydrophilic vegetation developed mainly around the death arms of river Váh, but it is too small to be important for birds. During the building of the water basin Sĺňava had part of its original area absolutely different character than today. Mainly, it was much more deforested. The under-waters of Sĺňava were moistening the depressions of surrounding area, and this gave very good conditions for homes of birds living in mud. Continuous wadding of the canals which drifted through soil out of the basin and growing of vegetation eliminated this conditions and today’s look of the basin was formed. Negative acts today are mainly floods as the consequences of regulation of the water flow in Sĺňava, when the hydrologic circumstances are not positive. 4.3 Protected study area Slnava

Short time after the finishing the water basin there were seen some actions of people, who tried to protect the birds of Sĺňava. Ing. arch. Ľ. Mrňa and Mr. K. Duffek suggested formation of reservations for birds already in year 1963. They proposed areas where were secured good conditions for reproduction of species and their protection from the unwanted rush of tourism. The whole process was very difficult, but finally, in year 1980 (March, 1) the scientist succeeded.