Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A large (77 km long), shallow (1-14 m deep), highly regulated lake, the shore of which is densely built-up. Submerged vegetation covers c.5% of the total surface area of the lake, and the water is moderately rich in nutrients. Human activities include fishing, reed- and ice-cutting, sailing and coarse angling.
This site is an important area for wintering wildfowl, especially diving ducks.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The lake is affected by run-off from surrounding agricultural land, development of the lakeshore, and fragmentation of reedbeds (
Phragmites). The Hungarian government is making efforts to revert the lake to its original, nutrient-poor state through sediment removal and sewage treatment. Wildfowl hunting is prohibited, and a long-term research programme is underway. A section of the north shore is part of the proposed Balaton-felvidéki National Park.
National None
International High59,800 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Balaton, 59,800 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Balaton (Hungary). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-balaton-iba-hungary on 26/12/2024.
