Although the protected landscape area of Pálava is one of the smallest, it is also one of the most significant in the Czech Republic. Pálava is situated in the southernmost part of Moravia between the River Dyje and the Czech-Austrian border. Folk etymology translates the name Pálava as "earth burnt by the sun" after the dry and warm climate throughout the region. The natural and cultural uniqueness of this entire area was acknowledged by a proposal for integration into the UNESCO work network of biosphere reservations. This occurred due to an initiative by the Czechoslovak Committee for the Man and Biosphere program in 1986.The Pálava highlands are a dominant feature of the region. Part of the territory of the protected landscape area consists in land used for agricultural purposes with a predominance of vineyards and individual residences, a privileged position being held by the town of Mikulov. The most frequented location is the Děvín national nature reservation, which is characterized by an unusually diverse natural environment. Visitors can learn more on the nature trail here. Several places offer a view of a large part of South Moravia, the neighboring area of Lower Austria and the Slovak Small Carpathians.