Only weeks now separate Lake Velence from ecological disaster, yet the Orbán government had ample opportunity to intervene. Soon, the lake may become unrecognisable.
Ministers were fully aware of the lake’s deteriorating condition, but even the government commissioner tasked with overseeing the area showed little inclination to act. Instead, billions were poured into concrete developments along the shoreline. No meaningful long-term plans were drawn up, even as water levels plunged to record lows this year. The lakebed may soon dry out to such an extent that Velence fragments into isolated pools. One of Hungary’s most popular holiday destinations is vanishing before our eyes — though, experts insist, it need not have come to this.
Water level of Lake Velence at historic low
Reports emerged yesterday that water levels at Agárd have fallen to just 49 centimetres, far below the normal range of 130 to 170 centimetres. Levels have not approached that benchmark for years, but the current situation is unprecedented. The drop is so severe that boat traffic has already been suspended.
With extreme heat expected to drive further evaporation, there is little prospect of replenishment — neither from the catchment area nor elsewhere — during the peak summer months.
According to RTL News, only a handful of visitors now linger along the shore. Those who venture into the water complain that it is unnervingly warm. Measurements taken by the broadcaster suggest that in some shallow areas, the water temperature is only a few degrees below that of the surrounding air, reaching as high as 37°C. Experts estimate the lake has warmed by around 4°C since 2024, accelerating algal blooms and degrading water quality. Local hospitality businesses report that even winter trade exceeded current summer footfall.
A preventable crisis
A detailed report published by Válasz Online in mid-June found that warning signs had been evident since the early 2020s, yet no substantive action followed. Civil groups argue that the government commissioner — and indeed the government itself — showed little real interest in the lake’s fate.
While Lake Velence has historically experienced periodic drying, and its ecosystem has adapted accordingly, the surrounding tourism-dependent economy has not. Intervention is therefore not only an environmental necessity but also a socio-economic one.
Natural processes alone will not restore the lake’s water volume. Levels should fluctuate between 130 and 170 centimetres, yet they have not done so for years. Without intervention, this summer’s record-breaking heat could see levels fall to as little as 30 centimetres, causing the lake to fragment into separate bodies of water. In such a scenario, the Velence we know could effectively cease to exist, undergoing a transformation reminiscent of the Aral Sea.
Redirecting water flows
Válasz Online suggests that several solutions exist for replenishing water levels, though efforts are hampered by a lack of comprehensive research. Unlike Lake Balaton, Velence has not been studied in sufficient depth, leaving policymakers without the necessary data for complex, long-term decision-making.
Nonetheless, interim measures are available. All watercourses within the catchment area could be redirected into the lake — a solution partially implemented in the past. However, many of the so-called “temporary water control structures” are now leaking, allowing valuable water to escape, even if it continues to sustain nearby wetlands.
A new spectacle emerges in Hungary: Lake Velence could dry out completely – shocking 1-minute timelapse video
Cheaper than prestige projects
The 51 billion forints spent on constructing a luxury-standard kayaking and canoeing academy could instead have funded far more impactful measures to stabilise water levels. That sum would have been sufficient to maintain all ditches and inflows feeding the lake, ensuring that every possible drop of water reached it.
For roughly 2 billion forints, treated wastewater from the Gárdony and Csákvár treatment plants could be redirected into the lake. The former, in particular, would provide a substantial and visible boost. Together, the two facilities could contribute 2.08 million cubic metres annually, raising water levels by approximately 8.7 centimetres per year. Had this system been operational since 2021, today’s crisis might have been avoided entirely — at a fraction of the cost of the academy.
A more permanent solution would involve diverting water from the Danube. Two preliminary plans already exist, with estimated costs ranging between 150 and 255 billion forints. Yet, as the article notes, this is still less than half the cost of the largely unused Danube bridge at Mohács. Had there been the political will, the project could by now have been completed.
Orbán’s graveyard for taxpayers’ money laid bare: why the new Danube bridge is pointless and exorbitantly priced
Lake Velence still fit for leisure – but time is running out
Lake Velence remains suitable for recreation, the Élhető Velence Association has said, stressing that visitors can still cycle, walk, attend local events, sample regional wines and enjoy the area’s culinary offerings. They also emphasised that the lake continues to support water-based activities, including boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, and bathing at designated beaches. The association posted the photo below:
Featured image: Facebook/Élhető Velence Egyesület
Result of gross negligence of our nature by Fidesz for years and years. This is one of the many reasons that support for Fidesz is free falling, and rightfully so. Fidesz decision makers were far more interested in making more useless concrete structures (by Fidesz close businessmen of course) than protecting nature even though they had all the information available about the declining nature and disaster ahead. Now it up to the Tisza decision makers to clean up and fix the mess Fidesz left behind. It will surely take a long time.