A drone video shows the poor condition of Hungary’s third-largest natural lake. Water has completely disappeared from part of the highly protected area. This is also ominous news because it is an important nesting area for many waterfowl.
The Gárdonyi Közlöny presented a video that illustrates the scale of the problem in certain parts of Lake Velence. According to the recordings, the water in the area of the bird sanctuary in the southwestern part of the lake disappeared completely.
“Lake Velence has lost 44 per cent of its water in the last two years.
Due to water scarcity, the nature reserve in the south-western part of the lake, the Lake Velence bird sanctuary, has almost completely dried up,” writes Gárdony Közlöny.
This area is an important nesting area for waterfowl.
In the list of wild waters of international importance, the 420-hectare area of Lake Velence was declared highly protected in 1958. This area is home to the great egret, the Eurasian spoonbill, the great crested grebe, the little grebe and the summer goose, among others. This area is not only important for birds. The original bog flora of the reserve is also significant from a nature conservation point of view.
The uniqueness of the place is proved by the presence of the spleen orchid species called the onion shell, which is rare in Europe, writes hvg.hu. On the website of the Danube-Ipoly National Park, you can read what the main task would be to protect the lake and the area.
The main conservation task is to regulate the water level of Lake Velence.
Lake Velence has been in the spotlight several times this summer. Due to the high heat and low rainfall, very low water levels were measured at Lake Velence. At the beginning of the summer, its water level was 39 centimetres below the minimum control level. The consequence of this is the decrease of the oxygen level in the water and the significant destruction of the fish stock, writes index.hu.
Locals are trying to fix the problem both individually and at the organisational level. Volunteers helped the Hungarian National Fishermen’s Association to clean up the dead fish. Civilians also collected several bags of garbage and dead fish separately. The Volunteer Firefighters of the City of Venice pumped water into the lake to help supply fish with oxygen. Animal Welfare came up with an interesting idea. Jet ski owners are asked to stir the stagnant water using the vehicle.
In addition to our best-known large lakes, it is also worth visiting many smaller, more secluded lakes! The number of free beaches at Lake Balaton is constantly decreasing. If you can’t stand the mass misery that is the current situation, you’ll find plenty of beautiful lakes in the country.
There are plenty of lakes that are especially suitable for swimming, while elsewhere it is mainly worth fishing or bird watching. We have gathered for you seventeen lakes in beautiful surroundings that can be great hiking destinations in the heat!
Malom-lake,Veresegyház – Sandy beach near Budapest
This cosy pond, lined with reeds hidden from the city, provides the perfect place to relax. You can swim on the lake beach in Veresegyháza, so if you were looking for a pleasant waterfront experience near the capital, you have found it!
Lake Bokodi (Komárom-Esztergom county)
It was originally built as a cooling lake for the Vértes Power Plant in the 1960s by inflating the By-river flowing through it. The area has become a fishing paradise over the years, with a floating village on the shore.
Lake Gébárti (Zala county)
The lovely lake varies from half a meter to 8-10 meters deep. There is also a beach, a campsite and a craft house reminiscent of folk architecture.
Lake Dombay (Baranya county)
The breathtaking water surface was once overlooked by mills lined up on the shore; today, they are replaced by youth camps.
Sóstó, Nyíregyháza
In the Sóstó Lake Bath, you can have a good swim, sunbathe on the pier and the sandy shore, and the slide is a big favourite of the audience. Although nature is at your fingertips, the shores of the lake are superbly built.
Lake Anyácsai (Pest county)
Although surrounded by rolling hills in three directions, it is bordered on the northwest by a country road. It is a real iconic attraction because of the Hungarian Glass Tiger movies.
Vadása-tó (Vas county)
The popular holiday area in Őrség in the southern part of the county actually consists of two lakes. There are beaches, holiday homes and restaurants available.
Lake Deseda (Somogy county)
The artificial lake north of Kaposvár is the longest in Hungary. It is not only a popular resting place but is also surrounded by a hiking trail that can be reached by bicycle.
The protected area is the lake and its entire surroundings, which belong to the Aggtelek National Park. The lake is surrounded by rock walls that rise 70 meters above the water surface. It is not only a tourist destination but also a geographical and cultural treasure. A hiking trail leads here, which is very popular with Hungarian hikers.
Also part of the Aggtelek area, the lake, famous for its emerald green colour, lies at the bottom of a narrow valley. The spring here has the highest cold water flow in Hungary. You can admire the area on wooden bridges above the fast-flowing streams diverted into the stone bed.
Vadkerti Lake, Soltvadkert – A child-friendly paradise in the Great Plain
Those arriving with small children will love this one! The shallow water along the coast and the many child-friendly services guarantee a good atmosphere for the little ones, such as a trampoline, an amusement park and a giant slide.
Lake Hársas, Szentgotthárd
Although Lake Hársas attracts many during the season, it is not only a popular place because of its beach. The elongated lake stretches in a forested valley in the Őrség National Park.
Lak Valley Lake, Bélapátfalva
Due to the mountainous environment, it is not only worth visiting the Lak Valley Lake in summer: it is as if a postcard came to life. Relax on the waterfront, hop on a bicycle or even camp!
Szajki lakes, Vas county
The Szajki Lakes are an elongated lake system created by the damming of the Csörgető stream. In summer, it functions as a free beach as it has a grassy, shady shore, and the water slowly deepens. The rest of the year, it is surrounded by silence, so if you like to observe the aquatic life undisturbed, you can hardly find a better place!
Rudabánya mine lake, Kazincbarcika
The crystal clear, bright blue-green water stretching between the red rocks is an absolute natural miracle. During a sunny hour, the lake formed in the mine creates a remarkable, almost tropical atmosphere, but it also offers a unique sight in autumn and winter.
Lake Orfű, Pécs
Known for its deservedly famous summer festival, the lake is a pleasant bathing place. The area is clean and pet-friendly. Rent sports equipment, walk, circle the lake, or simply have a picnic on the beach and admire the rippling Mecsek mountains in the background!
Lake Szelidi, Dunapataj
The water of the 5th largest natural lake in Hungary warms up to 28 degrees in summer! On the sandy shores of Lake Szelidi, children can enjoy playing, the water is clear, but it is also possible to rent kayaks and canoes. As a bonus, it is also healing due to the high iodine content of saline and saltwater. Restaurants, campsites and many hotels line the lake, so direct waterfront accommodation is also available.
The actual recovery of tourism cannot come before the following spring. Last year, tourists barely made it to Budapest, and domestic tourism cannot expect much growth this year either. In the countryside, especially on Lake Balaton, the accommodations expect high attendance, but without an international audience, it might not be worth it reopening in Budapest.
The coronavirus pandemic overturned tourism not only globally but also within Hungary last season. According to CSO data, the number of nights spent by foreigners in accommodation fell by 71.3 per cent in August compared to the previous year.
Last season was hurting Budapest the most, as foreigners could not visit and Hungarians mostly vacationed outside of the capital. Although the world is now on the verge of a slow reopening, Budapest’s accommodations, which rely mainly on international tourism, is not expecting to see many foreigners this year, nor will life in the party district be thriving in the summer.
“Roughly the same thing can be expected as last summer: foreigners will be absent, from Budapest completely,”
Tamás Flesch, president of the Association of Hungarian Hotels and Restaurants, told Telex.
According to Flesch, most rural hotels will open this year, but the situation is different in the capital, “there is no traffic yet worth reopening for”. Last season, the smaller hotels in the capital were clearly too big of a hassle to keep open, but so was the Hilton, apparently.
Flesch foresees the recovery of tourism in Budapest at best next spring.
“Once again, last summer, we were optimistic that tourism would restart in the fall, and then everyone closed.”
However, there is an important difference between last year and this year: the vaccine.
It depends largely on vaccination rates when people can go on holiday with crowds. In the EU, the immunity card will play a significant role, even though the EU card will only be valid for ‘western’ vaccines. These are currently defined to be the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines.
According to Flesch, it would be an excellent solution to reach as many bilateral agreements as possible, for example, with Ukraine, Poland, Austria or even Germany.
“there would be an opportunity for some of them to choose Hungary during their summer holidays”.
The party district is an unavoidable part of tourism and hospitality in Budapest. Most of the services were closed last year, and the owner of Szimpla, Ábel Zsendovits, does not see a brighter future for this season either.
“We expect zero domestic tourism in the party district.”
Although it is still a question of whether the summer and the summer school holidays will rearrange the situation slightly, he also says that tourism in the capital will not start earlier than autumn.
The lack of tourism in Budapest also has a strong impact on restaurants. Restaurant owner Zsidai Roy says, that “the coming months will not be uncertain, but will certainly be very painful until tourism opens”.
Meanwhile, the Hungarian Tourism Agency is trying to “inspire hope and confidence” for those working in tourism and hospitality with an image film.
While Budapest expects general devastation again this year, the countryside can be revived in the summer. According to a survey by the Hungarian Tourism Agency, seven out of ten Hungarians will travel inland this year, and most would go by some form of water or to a place close to nature, mainly to Lake Balaton, the Mátra-Bükk region or around Budapest.
The bookings placed on Szallas.hu also show that Lake Balaton is a hit with Hungarians this year as well. Spokesperson Lili Kelemen wrote to Telex that a third of their summer bookings are for Lake Balaton.
According to the spokesperson, their accommodations in Hungary are mainly popular among Hungarians. If, on the other hand, the borders could be reopened as early as the summer, “due to medical tourism, popular spa towns can count on guests from the surrounding countries, while the capital will remain slower to return to the map of international travellers”.
The creative utilisation of our living spaces is becoming more and more important globally, as a result of which a new segment – the so-called floating houses – emerged on the real estate market, which has now conquered Hungary as well. Hungary’s first floating house park will be implemented on the shores of Lake Velence. Let’s see what it will look like.
The utilisation of water surfaces and the involvement of waterfronts in urban life is gaining more and more significance in many countries of the world where floating houses appear on the water but maintain the services and safety of the coast.
This new trend has reached Hungary as well, where the first floating house park will be implemented on the shores of Lake Velence,
Photo: marinushomes.eu
and it will be followed by other similar solutions in Budapest in Lágymányos Bay, according to the announcement of Marinus Homes Ltd.
As the Hungarian news portal Portfolio reports, so far, this is an untapped market segment in Hungary; therefore, the design, production, and development of living spaces, holiday homes, business premises, and offices installed on the water are complex architectural and real estate development tasks.
Utility supply for the 50-110 square metre floats is provided through the coastal infrastructure, while the underlying concrete float provides stability.
Photo: marinushomes.eu
The most important characteristics of such buildings are:
modularity, which enables road transport and provides variation in size and floor plan based on demand;
prefabrication under factory conditions – for both floats and superstructures – which is suitable for eliminating inaccuracies and errors due to on-site installation, and it results in fast construction on-site without burdening the environment with waste materials;
material use: the floating houses are based on easy-to-manufacture, low-maintenance concrete point bodies with adequate buoyancy, which can be used to classify floating bodies of various sizes. The use of concrete floats enables stability on the water, even under significant wind and wave loads.
The demand for rental houses and holiday homes near Lake Balaton and Lake Velence has increased significantly this year. Even though the first four months of the year hardly differed from last year’s results, in May and June 70% and 50% increase could be observed.
At the beginning of this summer, the demand for holiday homes and properties for rent for a longer time (at least one or two months), next to Lake Balaton and Lake Velence, has grown significantly.
According to the latest summary of the real estate portal ingatlan.com, rents in the settlements of Lake Balaton in the summer season can exceed EUR 580 (~HUF 200,000) per month.
After easing curfew and travel restrictions in May, property market at Lake Balaton and Lake Velence exploded. Even though the first four months of the year hardly differed from last year’s results the number of people interested in renting holiday homes and houses increased by 70% in May and by 50% in June compared to a year earlier – revealed László Balogh, economic expert of ingatlan.com. He also added that this extra demand could be explained by the fact that many people were looking for domestic settlements instead of foreign destinations due to the pandemic.
For a family or group of friends, renting a holiday home for a whole month is not much more expensive than booking accommodation for one or two weeks abroad.
On the northern shore of Lake Balaton, in Veszprém county, the average monthly rent of holiday homes and properties was EUR 725 (~HUF 250,000) in June and EUR 695 (~HUF 240,000) in July. As the Hungarian news portal Origo reports, property prices in Zala County are lower; holiday homes are offered for a monthly rent of EUR 290 (~HUF 100,000). In the lakeside settlements on the southern shore, in Somogy county, properties were available for EUR 580 (~HUF 200,000) per month in June, and EUR 638 (HUF 220,000) per month in July.
In the case of Lake Velence, the average monthly rent of holiday homes in Gárdony was EUR 377 (~HUF 130,000) in June, while it increased up to EUR 623 (~HUF 215,000) per month in July.
From Celtic tribes to Italian workers, the names of Hungary’s largest lakes reveal centuries of eventful history in the Carpathian Basin.
There are over 3,000 lakes in the territory of Hungary, offering endless recreational opportunities across the country. The names most foreigners are familiar with are Balaton, Lake Velence and Lake Fertő, and although visiting these places is always a good idea, it is also worth digging into their history to learn some interesting facts about their origin, as did Hungarian website Divany.
A heritage of Celts and Slavs
Lake Balaton, arguably one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hungary, is around 10–12 thousand years old, but the name we use today is significantly younger. During the era of the Roman Empire, conquerors used the name Lacus Pelso, which literally means shallow lake, and is a name first used by the Celtic tribes who had settled here before the Romans.
The name was still in use when the Avars settled in the Carpathian Basin in the 6th century. Still, it was also during this period that another name, Blatto came into use: this is how Slavic slaves who arrived with the Avars described the area rich in reeds and swamps.
The original Slavic word Blatto then transformed into various forms such as Blatno, Bolotin, Balotin, Balatin, and finally, Balaton, which was later borrowed by the Hungarians as well.
In fact, the word we use today also appears in the foundation letter of the Tihany Abbey, which is considered one of the first documents that have Hungarian words in it. It was mostly written in Latin but does contain 58 Hungarian words, including the name of “the Hungarian sea” — just to mention a more recent name Hungarians use to talk about the largest lake in their country.
Velence: the Venice of Hungary?
The name of Hungary’s second lake (third largest) is more straightforward: it bears the name of the adjacent settlement, which was an important point of the trade route connecting Buda and the Adriatic sea. But when it comes to the name’s origins, there are still a lot of question marks. According to Divany, one argument comes from the fact that Hungarians use the name Velence not only to refer to this lakeside city but also to Venice, the world-famous city of canals in northern Italy. Hence the name can originate from Italian architects who were working on the buildings of the nearby city of Székesfehérvár.
Swan on Lake Velence. Photo: Pear Blossom/Wikimedia Commons
A country of swamps
Fertő tó or Neusiedler See is Hungary’s second-largest lake sitting on the Austrian–Hungarian border. The German name Neusiedler literally means new settlement. At the same time “fertő” is an old Hungarian word used to describe swamps and muddy areas — and therefore was once used to describe Balaton and Lake Velence as well.
Here are some pictures of some of the most stunning lakes in Hungary that you may want to swim in, go on a boat ride on, or simply enjoy the view from the shore.
Lake Tisza
Photo: Pixabay
Photo By Németh Dániel (directly from author) GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons
According to travelo.hu, Lake Balaton welcomes visitors with magical lookout-towers and delicious meals, Lake Tisza with an adventure park and boating opportunity, Lake Fertő with cute towns and plenty of birds, Lake Velence with a day worth of sights and Sóstógyógyfürdő with a huge zoo and the country’s biggest village museum, all year around. If there are so many opportunities at Hungarian lakes, why would you only think about the beach and sunbathing? End this habit and get going! 🙂
Of course, you can’t pack a bathing suit in spring, but you can go on walks, eat great meals and enjoy the sun just like in summer. In fact, since the season hasn’t started yet, the experience will be even better due to the smaller crowds. And spring is the most ideal season for sport lovers, who’d like to cycle or hike around the most beautiful Hungarian lakes.
Lake Balaton
Touristic experts and locals have been repeating it for quite some time that Balaton is just as great in autumn and spring, and it shouldn’t only be visited in July and August. And they are perfectly right. If you decide to visit the region at a spring weekend, make sure to visit one of the lookout-towers, because the view of the lake is stunning. And those who’d rather ride their bicycles should go in the direction of the Káli Basin, because the path and the region is beautiful. If you’d like to finish the day off with a delicious meal, you should check out the Gastro Map of Lake Balaton, which lists the best restaurants of the region.
Lake Tisza
Another lake where the opportunities go beyond bathing, however, you don’t have to forget about it either, because the selection of wellness hotels is quite wide. Still, of course, you can do much more than enjoy the saunas and jacuzzis. For instance, you may rent a bike and cycle around the lake, and stop at the adventure park, the mini outdoor museum of Abádszalók, or the ecocentre of Poroszló, with the cutest otters. Do some research on the flora and fauna of the region, rent a boat, and get to know the nature and the bird species of the lake.
Photo: www.facebook.com/CsodálatosTisza-tó
Lake Fertő
Lake Fertő offers similar experiences to what the previous two destinations do, but with an extra touch: it lies at the Austrian-Hungarian border and the feeling of visiting the neighbours spices up the adventure. There’s basically everything you can imagine, one weekend is not even enough to discover the whole region. For one thing, it is full of cultural sights like Sopron, the old town of Ruszt, the landscape house of Fertőszéplak, the outdoor museum of Mönchhof, and the castles of Fertőd and Kismarton. For another thing, the selection of sport activities is quite wide: you can rent bikes, kayaks or go hiking. If you happen to be mire amazed by the fauna, or delicious meals, you’ll be in a good place, as well.
Photo: Wiki Commons By Lutz Fischer-Lamprecht
Lake Velence
While you’d need at least four days to explore Lake Fertő and its vicinity, you can discover Lake Velence in one day. But this doesn’t mean that it is boring, only that its size is so compact that you could cycle around the lake, eat lunch and visit the sights in one day. So it’s the perfect destination for those who can only get out of the rat race for one day.
Photo: Wiki Commons By Susulyka
Nyíregyháza-Sóstógyógyfürdő
If you don’t live in the neighbourhood, the chances of coming up with programme ideas in the region are quite small, because it still doesn’t get enough attention. But if you’re going towards Nyíregyháza, missing such a holiday resort as Sóstógyógyfürdő would be a pity. Sóstó is a tiny oasis, where you can find everything you need for a weekend staycation. A thermal bath at the coast of the lake surrounded by oak forests, a huge zoo, and Hungary’s biggest village museum welcome you here. It is also a place where there are basically no distances, everything is within reach. Perfect for a cosy spring weekend.
Lakepedia.com – Hungary is a beautiful country, a popular tourist destination that attracts more than 10 million visitors every year. The stunning Budapest is of course the most famous of its destinations, but Hungary also has many beautiful lakes. Below are 5 of the most important lakes in Hungary, each with its own interesting particularities.
1. Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton needs little introduction. Located in the western part of Hungary, it is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of the region’s most popular vacation destinations. It covers an area of 592 square kilometers, and has a maximum depth of 12 meters.
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There are many resorts around the lake, the most important ones being Keszthely, Siófok, and Balatonfüred. Zamárdi, a resort on the lake’s southern shore, hosts Balaton Sound, an important electronic music festival held since 2007.
Photo: Pixabay
The lake is most popular among tourists from June to August, with an abundance of activities available. The warm water temperature during summer makes swimming and bathing very popular. Even though most beaches consist of grass, rocks, or sand from the bottom of the lake, many resorts offer artificial sandy beaches as well.
Other popular activities at the lake include fishing, sailing, and water sports. The region on the northern shore of the lake is also known for its historic character and as a major wine region. Even though the lake is most popular during the summer, it is also frequented during winter, when visitors skate, sledge, ice-sail, or go ice-fishing on the frozen waters of the lake.
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2. Lake Fertő
Lake Fertő is also quite large, the largest salt lake in Europe, the third largest lake in Central Europe, and the westernmost of the great continental salt lakes of Eurasia. The lake is actually shared between Hungary and Austria, where it is known under the name of Neusiedler See. Lake Fertő covers an area of 315 square kilometers, with about 76% of the lake in Austria and 24% in Hungary. The lake’s maximum depth is just 1.8 meters.
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The lake is an important resting place for migratory birds, because most of it is surrounded by reeds, which makes it ideal as a wildlife habitat. The reeds are harvested during winter, for both ecological and economic reasons. The region around the lake, particularly in Austria, draws significant numbers of tourists, who come here for sailing and windsurfing.
Photo By Lutz Fischer-Lamprecht (Own work) CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
3. Lake Tisza
Photo: Pixabay
Lake Tisza is actually a reservoir (also known as Kisköre Reservoir), and quite a large one. Covering 127 square kilometers, it is located at the southeastern edge of Heves county. The dam that formed the lake, Tisza Dam, was built in 1973, but its filling was finished in the 1990s. The lake has a maximum depth of 17 meters.
After the reservoir was completed, it was designated an official tourism destination by the government. Consequently, tourist infrastructure has been developed on Lake Tisza, and vacationers started to visit it. Some people prefer it to Lake Balaton, which is considered more crowded and more expensive.
Photo By Németh Dániel (directly from author) GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons
4. Lake Velence
Covering an area of 27 square kilometers, Lake Velence is the second largest natural lake located entirely in Hungary. It is located in Fejér county between Budapest and Székesfehérvár, at the foot of the Velence Mountains.
One third of the lake’s area is covered by reed, which makes the lake a natural reserve that shelters bird species unique in Europe. The sunny climate of the area and the shallow waters of the lake, which only reach an average depth of 1.6 meters, make Lake Velence one of the warmest lakes in Europe. The water temperature in the summer may be as high as 28 °C.
Lake Velence is also a popular tourist destinations in Hungary. The water of the lake is rich in sodium and magnesium, and it regenerates the fatigued body and eases rheumatoid symptoms. There are also a lot of beaches that await people who prefer active holidays.
Photo By Susulyka (Own work) CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
5. Lake Fehér
Lake Fehér is located just north of the town of Szeged, and covers an area of 14 square kilometres. Its name derives from its color, Fehér meaning “white”. The lake is a part of the Kiskunság National Park, and is the largest saltwater lake located entirely in Hungary.
Lake Fehér is home to 280 bird species, and the area is an important stop for migrating European birds, which come here to rest and feed. In the migration season, one can see crowds of cranes, wild geese, and many more species on Lake Fehér. This makes Lake Fehér extremely important for wildlife and thus it is carefully protected.
[learn_more caption=”lakepedia.com:”] Lakepedia is an online encyclopedia of lakes, which helps travelers discover new vacation destinations, lakes nearby, and increase awareness about the importance of inland bodies of water.[/learn_more]
