Situated in the Transdanubian region of Hungary, Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe and one of the most famous tourist attractions in the country. Lake Balaton (Hungarian IPA [ˈbɒlɒton], German: Plattensee, Latin: Lacus Pelso, Serbo-Croatian: Blatno jezero, Slovak: Blatenské jazero) is a freshwater lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. Water outflow is through the sluice gates of Siófok, toward the eastern end of the lake, and the entire contents of the lake … In the column “Balaton Info” we would like to familiarize you with various activities, and with peculiarities of this wonderful region – Lake Balaton. Corrections? In distinction to all other endonyms for lakes, which universally bear the identifying suffix -tó (“lake”), Lake Balaton is referred to in Hungarian with a definite article, ie. Water level was lowered by ap-proximately 1 meter in 1863, cutting off large marsh areas from the water system Fishing on Lake Balaton and its water system is performed by Balaton Fish Management Non-Profit Ltd.(1 Horgony street, Siófok, 8600). The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water. [19] It was visited by ordinary working Hungarians and especially for subsidised holiday excursions for labor union members. Several Ilyushin Il-2 wrecks have been pulled out of the lake after having been shot down during the later months of the war. Fishing is also big business at Lake Balaton, with commercial fishing occurring over several centuries. You can only fish with a fishing rod and spinning. During the communist period, the lake represented a convenient meeting place for… [12][13] It is also noteworthy that the average depth of Balaton (3.2m)[14] is not extraordinary for the area (cf. Updates? Balaton – the lake on the west of Hungary, the hugest lake in Central Europe. Lake Balaton, is in many ways, a rarity as it is definitely a huge one. Situated a little over 120 kilometers southwest of Budapest, Lake Balaton stretches out diagonally from the capital as a kind of lumpy oblong for 77 kilometers. The following fish species can be found in this lake: carp, wels, […] [19], The last major German offensive of World War II, Operation Frühlingserwachen, was conducted in the region of Lake Balaton in March 1945, being referred to as "the Lake Balaton Offensive" in many British histories of the war. The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and the canalised Sió is the only outflow. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Lake Balaton along the southern foothills of the Bakony Mountains, Hungary. It has an area of 231 square miles (598 square km) and extends for 48 miles (77 km) along the southern foothills of the Bakony Mountains of Hungary. Lake Balaton is probably not a place you’d travel thousands of miles to visit, but if you’re in Hungary for an extended period of time the north shore of the lake is absolutely worth putting on the itinerary. Balatonfőkajár - Balatonakarattya - Balatonkenese - Balatonfűzfő - Balatonalmádi - Alsóörs - Paloznak - Csopak - Balatonarács - Balatonfüred - Tihany - Aszófő - Örvényes - Balatonudvari - Fövenyes - Balatonakali - Zánka - Balatonszepezd - Szepezdfürdő - Révfülöp - Pálköve - Ábrahámhegy - Balatonrendes - Badacsonytomaj - Badacsony - Badacsonytördemic - Szigliget - Balatonederics - Balatongyörök - Vonyarcvashegy - Gyenesdiás - Keszthely, Balatonakarattya - Balatonaliga - Balatonvilágos - Sóstó - Szabadifürdő - Siófok - Széplak - Zamárdi - Szántód - Balatonföldvár - Balatonszárszó - Balatonszemes - Balatonlelle - Balatonboglár - Fonyód - Fonyód–Alsóbélatelep - Bélatelep - Balatonfenyves - Balatonmáriafürdő - Balatonkeresztúr - Balatonberény - Fenékpuszta, Balaton as seen from Alsórét, Balatonkenese. Many resorts have artificial sandy beaches and all beaches have step access to the water. Lake Balaton Follow us The Balaton region is one of Hungary’s most popular destinations; where you can trek in the beautiful National Park, go hiking up the mountains and hills that offer outstanding panoramas, or where you can rest your weary body and soul at any of … Originally, there were five small lakes that extended in a north-south chain, but these coalesced when erosion broke down the dividing ridges. Its maximum depth is 37 feet (11 metres). Balaton suffered from commercial fishing for a long time. Sármellék International Airport provides air service to Balaton (although most service is only seasonal). Located on Lake Balaton, the city has been settled since Roman times. …soil and abundant water resources—notably. The southern border of the lake is very fertile, and the volcanic soils to the northwest form the basis of a noted wine-growing region. AU - Biro, P. PY - 1984/1/1. Average depth approximates 10 feet (3 meters), although a depth of over 100 feet (30.5 meters) is found at one point. Fishing on Lake Balaton There’s a long tradition of fishing at Lake Balaton, and despite a relatively low-depth, there is a variety of fishes in the lake. It is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of the region's foremost tourist destinations. The hobby angler will find bream, carp, zander or perch-pike, asp, ziege or sabre carp, pike and European eel. The microclimate around Lake Balaton has also made the region ideal for viticulture. The Mediterranean-like climate, combined with the soil (containing volcanic rock), has made the region notable for its production of wines since the Roman period two thousand years ago.[17]. Its average depth is around 3 meter. In January 846 Slavic prince Pribina began to build a fortress as his seat of power and several churches in the region of Lake Balaton, in a territory of modern Zalavár surrounded by forests and swamps along the river Zala. Few may know that the 77-km-long Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe, with a territory of 594 km 2. It was called lacus Pelsodis or Pelso by the Romans. It is unlikely that the Germans named the lake so for being shallow since the adjective platt is a Greek loanword that was borrowed via French and entered the general German vocabulary in the 17th century. I would like to learn more. a Balaton (the Balaton). Balaton Lake Hungary. If you are looking for a huge lake, beautiful environment and some challenges, then Lake Balaton is for you. Traces of these former lakes can still be seen in the configuration of Lake Balaton today, and the Tihany Peninsula—which projects from the northern shore, narrowing the lake to a width of 1 mile (1.6 km)—is the remnant of one of the dividing ridges. The oldest and best-known settlement is Tihany, noted for its museum and biological station. West Germans could also visit, making Balaton a common meeting place for families and friends separated by the Berlin Wall until 1989.[22]. Lake Balaton is a huge lake, offering challenges to even the most experienced of carp anglers in a beautiful environment. Tihany Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in the village of Tihany on the north shore of Lake Balaton, Hungary. Czech pleso ‘sinkhole, deep end of a lake’), later replaced by the Slavic *bolto (Czech bláto, Slovak blato, Polish błoto) meaning 'mud, swamp' (from earlier Proto-Slavic boltьno, Slovene: Blatno jezero,[6][7] Slovak: Blatenské jazero[8]). It is the largest lake in Central Europe,[3] and one of the region's foremost tourist destinations. This is why it is such an excellent place for a holiday, to swim, to do water-sports and last but not least to angle. The lake and the surrounding wetlands are highly sensitive to changes in the water regime. The bottom is flat and sandy. 3.5 meters). There is a wildlife reserve in the Tihany Peninsula, and another one in the extensive reedbeds near Keszthely, where rare water birds nest. For its large surface area, Lake Balaton is an extremely shallow lake - its average depth is a mere 3.2 m. Its main tributary, Zala River drains the western half of the watershed of 5,770 sq. For the sailing boats numerous well equipped ports and yacht club are available. [16], Lake Balaton affects the local area precipitation. The best-known fish from Lake Balaton is the zander, which is also known as Balaton zander. [20][21], During the 1960s and 1970s, Balaton became a major tourist destination due to focused government efforts, causing the number of overnight guests in local hotels and campsites to increase from 700,000 in July 1965 to two million in July 1975. The name is Indo-European in origin (cf. While a few settlements on Lake Balaton, including Balatonfüred and Hévíz, have long been resort centres for the Hungarian aristocracy, it was only in the late 19th century that the Hungarian middle class began to visit the lake. km and discharges into the lake from the south-west. It was called lacus Pelsodis or Pelso by the Romans. Omissions? Tihany, with its history, its natural beauty, its wildlife, and its picturesque village, is worth placing at the top of that itinerary. The area receives approximately 5–7 cm (2–3 in) more precipitation than most of Hungary, resulting in more cloudy days and less extreme temperatures. Lake Balaton is the biggest lake in Central Europe (600 km2), although the average water-depth is only 3 meters. Other tourist attractions include sailing, fishing, and other water sports, as well as visiting the countryside and hills, wineries on the north coast, and nightlife on the south shore. Badacsony is a volcanic mountain and wine-growing region as well as a lakeside resort. That is, the fish are not caught in tons of nets from the lake to serve … [5] The name is Indo-European in origin (cf. Lake Balaton is a freshwater lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. The fishing at Lake Balaton has a long tradition and offers variety of catches despite the low water level. average depth of water: 3 meters. In the Tihany Narrows, the water currents flow with a speed of up to 5 feet (1.5 metres) per second. Fresh water, shallow water, numerous seaside resorts and quaint little towns on its border, and a pleasant climate are all undeniable assets of Lake Balaton. At it widest point, Lake Balaton measures about 9 miles (14 km) across. Balaton Fishing Ltd. had been the first in Hungary making it possible to ambitious individual boatmen (ghillies) with decades of experiences to join and be part of an organisation with a professional background in … Water outflow is through the sluice gates of Siófok, toward the eastern end of the lake, and the entire contents of the lake are replenished about every two years. Active recreation on Lake Balaton. Many people believe that the world record carp is living in this lake. The regions around the lake are inhabited by a rich and interesting variety of plant and animal life. Outskirts of Small Balaton (Kis-Balaton) are most suitable for a … It’s lake surface is 600 km2. One can acquire fishing rod maps both in angler business and at camping sites. Yachting : The Balaton is the most important routistic area of the yachting in Hungary. At it widest point, Lake Balaton measures about 9 miles (14 km) across. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, 24. Its maximum depth is 37 feet (11 metres). The average water temperature during the summer is 25 °C (77 °F), which makes bathing and swimming popular on the lake. Although the peak season at the lake is the summer, Balaton is also frequented during the winter, when visitors go ice-fishing or even skate, sledge, or ice-sail on the lake if it freezes over. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Balaton. Out of the many possibilities to relax fishing is a very popular activity.The most suitable area for fishing is the northern shore of Lake Balaton: the eastern part of the Tihany-penninsula, the Tagore-promenade in Balatonfüred, and the "four-metre-section" of Balatonalmádi. Therefore, since 2013, it is prohibited. [9][10][11], The German name for the lake is Plattensee. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Balaton is a lake in Hungary with large area (594 km2) and very shallow water depth (avg. Most of the beaches consist of either grass, rocks, or the silty sand that also makes up most of the bottom of the lake. Balaton is the largest lake in central Europe, and its shallow depth means both that it is relatively family-friendly and that it warms up quickly in the sun. By the turn of the 20th century, Balaton had become a center of research by Hungarian biologists, geologists, hydrologists, and other scientists, leading to the country's first biological research institute being built on its shore in 1927. The deepest point is about 12 meters. length of 78 km, width ranging from 1 to 15 km. MapiTech launches on the market the best official up-to-date RNC (raster) combined with S57 nautical charts (digital): marinas, wrecks, fishing spots, boat ramps, POI. [18] The construction of railways in 1861 and 1909 increased tourism substantially, but the post-war boom of the 1950s was much larger. In distinction to all other endonyms for lakes, which universally bear the identifying suffix -tó (“lake”), Lake Balaton is referred to in Hungarian with a definite article, ie. The distance to Balaton Lake from Zagreb city in Croatia – 174 km The distance to Balaton Lake from Budapest city in Hungary – 90 km. The Zander is perhaps the most famous catch along with eels, pike, carp, and catfish. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This app displays seamlessly the beauty of paper charts, a "look and feel" experience combined with S57 data. N2 - Provides an introduction to the physical geography of the Carpathian Basin and describes the nature of the shallow Hungarian Lake Balaton - its geology and glacial history; morphometry; cultural history; annual physical and chemical cycles; biological … Lake Balaton, largest lake of central Europe, located in central Hungary about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Budapest. Large free beaches are at Zamárdi, Balatonboglár, Fonyód and Balatonfenyves. With this flexible option, you can customize your itinerary and look forward to discovering highlights like Festetics Palace, the Balaton Museum, Sumeg Castle, and more. The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and the canalised Sió is the only outflow. Balaton Lake – Hungary resort – center of family rest and water types of sport: sailing, rowing, surfing, water skiing, fishing. Lake Balaton receives the waters of more than 30 small streams and mineral springs and is also fed by the Zala River, which enters the lake from the west. [citation needed] It also attracted many East Germans and other residents of the Eastern Bloc. Anglers on Lake Balaton must be aware and keep the stricter local Balaton Fishing Regulations in addition to the valid state regulations. The climate of the region is rather continental, with warm and sunny weather prevailing from May to October. Some of these fish form the basis of one of the popular regional dishes, halaszle with pasta, or fish soup. The major resorts around the lake are Siófok, Keszthely, and Balatonfüred. Weekend visitors to the region, including tens of thousands from Budapest, reached more than 600,000 by 1975. The peak tourist season extends from June until the end of August. Other resort towns include: Balatonalmádi, Balatonboglár, Balatonlelle, Fonyód and Vonyarcvashegy. Fishing, wine-making, boating on the lake are the most interesting features of recreation. Professional fishing tours at Lake Balaton. The ‘Hungarian sea’ in the middle of Transdanubia is where Hungarians come to play. Its area is about 266 square miles (688 sq km), including the marshy shores. If that sounds like your idea of fun then Lake Balaton is definitely for you. A number of watering places sprang up, notable among which were Siófok, on the southern shore, and Balatonfüred, on the northern shore. As you go, learn about the region’s rich history, and stop for a local meal (own expense). Lake Balaton was formed less than 1,000 000 years ago, through the unification of five smaller lakes that were lying in the basin. This also implies to the nearly 600 square km Lake Balaton, which average depth is about 3 meters. Y1 - 1984/1/1. T2 - a shallow pannonian water in the Carpathian Basin. TY - JOUR. Balatonfüred and Hévíz developed early as resorts for the wealthy, but it was not until the late 19th century when landowners, ruined by Phylloxera attacking their grape vines, began building summer homes to rent out to the burgeoning middle classes.[4]. The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water. the average depth of the neighbouring Neusiedler See, which is roughly 1 m [3.3 ft]). The predominant anions, or negatively charged chemical components, are carbonate and sulphate, while the corresponding cations, or positive components, are magnesium, calcium, and sodium. The most interesting statistic of the lake is its depth, or rather lack of it as the average depth is just 3.3 meters. Iceboating on Lake Balaton, central Hungary. [12] It is unlikely that the Germans named the lake so for being shallow since the adjective platt is a Greek loanword that was borrowed via French and entered the general German vocabulary in the 17th century. Overview Overview C-MAP 4D MAX+ is the latest evolution of electronic charting technology, combining award-winning vector chart data with exclusive Dynamic Raster Charts and the ability to view charts in 2D or amazing 3D presentation with high-resolution satellite imagery. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The lakes surface area is 600 km2 with an average depth of around 10ft and predominantly a … Lake Balaton (pictured above) is one of those six. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. And stop for a local meal ( own expense ) variety of catches despite the water... ( 80 km ) across by signing up for this email, you are agreeing to,! Balaton zander average water-depth is only seasonal ) temperature during the later months of the region for! 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