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'''Lake Balaton''' ({{IPA-hu|ˈbɒlɒton|lang}}, {{lang-de|Plattensee}}, {{lang-la|Lacus Pelso}}, {{lang-sh|Blatno jezero}}, {{lang-sk|Blatenské jazero}}, ]: ''Blatno jezero'') is a ] lake in the ]n region of ]. It is the ] in ],<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Lake Balaton |encyclopedia=] |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9011913/Lake-Balaton |access-date=2008-03-20 }}</ref> and one of the region's foremost tourist destinations. The ] provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and the canalised ] is the only outflow. '''Lake Balaton''' ({{IPA-hu|ˈbɒlɒton|lang}}) is a ] ] in the ]n region of ]. It is the ] in ],<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Lake Balaton |encyclopedia=] |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9011913/Lake-Balaton |access-date=2008-03-20 }}</ref> and one of the region's foremost tourist destinations. The ] provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and the canalized ] is the only outflow.


The mountainous region of the northern shore is known both for its ] character and as a major ], while the flat southern shore is known for its ]s. ] and ] developed early as resorts for the wealthy, but it was not until the late 19th century when landowners, ruined by '']'' attacking their ]s, began building summer homes to rent out to the burgeoning middle classes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/hungary/lake-balaton/history |title=History of Lake Balaton - Lonely Planet Travel Information |publisher=Lonelyplanet.com |access-date=January 2, 2014}}</ref> The mountainous region of the northern shore is known both for its ] character and as a major ], while the flat southern shore is known for its ]s. ] and ] developed early as resorts for the wealthy, but it was not until the late 19th century when landowners, ruined by '']'' attacking their ]s, began building summer homes to rent out to the burgeoning middle class.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/hungary/lake-balaton/history |title=History of Lake Balaton - Lonely Planet Travel Information |publisher=Lonelyplanet.com |access-date=January 2, 2014 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728124939/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/hungary/lake-balaton/history |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Name== ==Name==
In distinction to all other endonyms for lakes, which universally bear the identifying suffix ''-tó'' ("lake"), Lake Balaton is referred to in ] with a definite article, ie. ''a Balaton'' ('''the Balaton'''). It was called ''lacus Pelsodis'' or ''Pelso'' by the ].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UDIOAQAAMAAJ&q=Lacus+Pelso |title=Brill's New Pauly: encyclopaedia of the ancient world - Hubert Cancik, Helmuth Schneider, David E. Orton - Google Knihy |date= 2007-04-15|access-date=January 2, 2014|isbn=9789004142152 |last1=Cancik |first1=Hubert |last2=Schneider |first2=Helmuth |last3=Orton |first3=David E. }}</ref> The name is ] in origin (cf. Czech ''pleso'' 'sinkhole, deep end of a lake'), later replaced by the ] *''bolto'' (Czech ''bláto'', Slovak ''blato'', Polish ''błoto'') meaning 'mud, swamp' (from earlier ] ''boltьno'', {{lang-sl|Blatno jezero}},<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CqxpAAAAMAAJ&q=Blatno+jezero |title=Historical review - Google Knihy |date=2009-01-06 |access-date=January 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sl81AQAAIAAJ&q=Blatno+jezero |title=A bulwark against Germany: the fight of the Slovenes, the western branch of ... - Bogumil Vošnjak, Fanny S. Copeland - Google Knihy |access-date=January 2, 2014|last1=Vošnjak |first1=Bogumil |last2=Copeland |first2=Fanny S. |year=1919 |isbn=9780598570208 }}</ref> {{lang-sk|Blatenské jazero}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zXE1AAAAMAAJ&q=Blatensk%C3%A9+jazero+balaton |title=Dejiny slovenského jazyka - Ján Stanislav - Google Knihy |access-date=January 2, 2014|last1=Stanislav |first1=Ján |year=1956 }}</ref>). In distinction to all other ] endonyms for lakes, which universally bear the suffix ''-tó'' 'lake', Lake Balaton is referred to in Hungarian with a definite article; that is, ''a Balaton'' 'the Balaton'. It was called ''lacus Pelsodis'' or ''Pelso'' by the ].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UDIOAQAAMAAJ&q=Lacus+Pelso |title=Brill's New Pauly: encyclopaedia of the ancient world - Hubert Cancik, Helmuth Schneider, David E. Orton - Google Knihy |date= 2007-04-15|access-date=January 2, 2014|isbn=9789004142152 |last1=Cancik |first1=Hubert |last2=Schneider |first2=Helmuth |last3=Orton |first3=David E. |publisher=Brill }}</ref> The name is ] in origin, derived from ] *''bolto'' (Czech ''bláto'', Slovak ''blato'', Polish ''błoto''), meaning 'mud, swamp' (from earlier ] ''boltьno'', cf. {{langx|sl|Blatno jezero}},<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CqxpAAAAMAAJ&q=Blatno+jezero |title=Historical review - Google Knihy |date=2009-01-06 |access-date=January 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sl81AQAAIAAJ&q=Blatno+jezero |title=A bulwark against Germany: the fight of the Slovenes, the western branch of ... - Bogumil Vošnjak, Fanny S. Copeland - Google Knihy |access-date=January 2, 2014|last1=Vošnjak |first1=Bogumil |last2=Copeland |first2=Fanny S. |year=1919 |publisher=Fleming H. Revell Company |isbn=9780598570208 }}</ref> {{langx|sk|Blatenské jazero}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zXE1AAAAMAAJ&q=Blatensk%C3%A9+jazero+balaton |title=Dejiny slovenského jazyka - Ján Stanislav - Google Knihy |access-date=January 2, 2014|last1=Stanislav |first1=Ján |year=1956 }}</ref>).
In January 846 ] prince ] began to build a fortress as his seat of power and several churches in the region of Lake Balaton, in a territory of modern ] surrounded by forests and swamps along the river ].<ref name='Bartl 19'>Bartl 2002, p. 19.</ref><ref name='Róna-Tas 243'>Róna-Tas 1999, p. 243.</ref><ref name='Goldberg 85'>Goldberg 2006, p. 85.</ref> His well-fortified castle and capital of ] that became known as ''Blatnohrad'' or ''Moosburg'' ("Swamp Fortress") served as a bulwark both against the ] and the Moravians.<ref name='Bartl 19'/><ref name='Róna-Tas 243'/><ref name='Goldberg 85'/> In January 846, the ] prince ] began to build a fortress as his seat of power and several churches in the region of Lake Balaton, in the territory of modern ] surrounded by forests and swamps along the ].<ref name='Bartl 19'>Bartl 2002, p. 19.</ref><ref name='Róna-Tas 243'>Róna-Tas 1999, p. 243.</ref><ref name='Goldberg 85'>Goldberg 2006, p. 85.</ref> His well-fortified castle and capital of the ] became known as ''Blatnohrad'' or ''Moosburg'' (literally, 'Swamp Fortress'), and it served as a bulwark against both the ] and the Moravians.<ref name='Bartl 19'/><ref name='Róna-Tas 243'/><ref name='Goldberg 85'/>


The ] name for the lake is ''{{lang|de|Plattensee}}''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weltweit-urlaub.de/ungarn/ |title=Urlaub in Ungarn - Ferienwohnung Ferienhaus am Plattensee in Ungarn |publisher=Weltweit-urlaub.de |access-date=January 2, 2014}}</ref> It is unlikely that the Germans named the lake so for being shallow since the adjective ''{{lang|de|platt}}'' is a Greek loanword that was borrowed via French and entered the general German vocabulary in the 17th century.<ref>Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, 24. Aufl., s. v.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.woerterbuchnetz.de/DWB/wbgui_py?bookref=13,1903,38 |title=the Grimm dictionary |publisher=Woerterbuchnetz.de |access-date=January 2, 2014}}</ref> It is also noteworthy that the average depth of Balaton ({{convert|3.2|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}})<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716191213/http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/eur/eur-04.html|date=July 16, 2012}}</ref> is not extraordinary for the area (cf. the average depth of the neighbouring ], which is roughly {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}}).<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515235102/http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/eur/eur-02.html|date=May 15, 2012}}</ref> The ] name for the lake is ''{{lang|de|Plattensee}}''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weltweit-urlaub.de/ungarn/ |title=Urlaub in Ungarn - Ferienwohnung Ferienhaus am Plattensee in Ungarn |publisher=Weltweit-urlaub.de |access-date=January 2, 2014}}</ref> It is unlikely it was given that name for being shallow because the adjective ''{{lang|de|platt}}'' is a Greek loanword that was borrowed via French and entered general German vocabulary in the 17th century.<ref>Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, 24. Aufl., s. v.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.woerterbuchnetz.de/DWB/wbgui_py?bookref=13,1903,38 |title=the Grimm dictionary |publisher=Woerterbuchnetz.de |access-date=January 2, 2014}}</ref> It is also noteworthy that the average depth of Balaton ({{convert|3.2|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or}})<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716191213/http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/eur/eur-04.html|date=July 16, 2012}}</ref> is not extraordinary for the area (cf. the average depth of the neighbouring ], which is roughly {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or}}).<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515235102/http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/eur/eur-02.html|date=May 15, 2012}}</ref>


==Climate== ==Climate==
] ]
] satellite]] ] satellite]]
Lake Balaton affects the local area precipitation. The area receives approximately {{convert|5|-|7|cm|abbr=on|0}} more precipitation than most of Hungary, resulting in more cloudy days and less extreme temperatures. The lake's surface freezes during winters. The microclimate around Lake Balaton has also made the region ideal for ]. The Mediterranean-like climate, combined with the soil (containing volcanic rock), has made the region notable for its production of wines since the ] two thousand years ago.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013171232/http://www.itthon.hu/images/mtrt/tartalom/balaton/english/balatoni_borkalauz.html|date=October 13, 2007}}</ref> Lake Balaton affects precipitation in the local area. The area receives approximately {{convert|5|-|7|cm|abbr=on|0}} more precipitation than most of Hungary, resulting in more cloudy days and less extreme temperatures. The lake freezes over during winters. The microclimate around Lake Balaton has also made the region ideal for ]. The Mediterranean-like climate, combined with the soil (containing volcanic rock), has made the region notable for its production of wines since the ] 2,000 years ago.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013171232/http://www.itthon.hu/images/mtrt/tartalom/balaton/english/balatoni_borkalauz.html|date=October 13, 2007}}</ref>


==History== ==History==
] ] with the inscription ''PELSO'' (i.e., 'Balaton')]]
While a few settlements on Lake Balaton, including ] and ], 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.<ref> at Lonely Planet</ref> The construction of railways in 1861 and 1909 increased tourism substantially, but the post-war boom of the 1950s was much larger. It always has been an important location, both tactically and culturally(with many folk tales surrounding it). During the Ottoman wars played an important role in defending ] where even battles were fought.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Végh |first=Ferenc |title=A Balaton Hadiflotta a Török Korban |url=https://magyarkaloz.hu/download/A_balatoni_hadiflotta_a_torok_korban._Th.pdf}}</ref> While a few settlements on Lake Balaton, including ] and ], 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.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728124939/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/hungary/lake-balaton/history |date=2020-07-28 }} at Lonely Planet</ref> The construction of railways in 1861 and 1909 increased tourism substantially, but the post-war boom of the 1950s was much larger.


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.<ref name="Ambio" /> 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.<ref name="Ambio" />


The last major German offensive of ], ], 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 battle was a German attack by ]'s ] and the ] between 6 March and 16 March 1945, and in the end, resulted in a Red Army victory. Several ] wrecks have been pulled out of the lake after having been shot down during the later months of the war.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/13695-rescue-of-il-2-m3-lake-balaton-hungary/|title=Rescue of IL-2 M3 Lake Balaton Hungary|website=forum.il2sturmovik.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://guideservicebudapest.com/tours-in-hungary-with-guide/lake-balaton-and-herend/|title=Lake Balaton and Herend|website=guideservicebudapest.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-22}}</ref> The last major German offensive of ], ], 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 battle was a German attack by ]'s ] and the ] between 6 and 16 March 1945, and in the end, resulted in a Red Army victory. Several ] wrecks have been pulled out of the lake after having been shot down during the later months of the war.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/13695-rescue-of-il-2-m3-lake-balaton-hungary/|title=Rescue of IL-2 M3 Lake Balaton Hungary|website=forum.il2sturmovik.com|date=26 December 2014 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://guideservicebudapest.com/tours-in-hungary-with-guide/lake-balaton-and-herend/|title=Lake Balaton and Herend|website=guideservicebudapest.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-22}}</ref>


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. Weekend visitors to the region, including tens of thousands from Budapest, reached more than 600,000 by 1975.<ref name= "Ambio">{{cite journal |last1=Láng |first1=István |date=1978 |title=Hungary's Lake Balaton: A Program to Solve Its Problems |journal=Ambio |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=164–168 |jstor=4312371 }}</ref> It was visited by ordinary working Hungarians and especially for subsidised holiday excursions for ] members.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} It also attracted many ] and other residents of the ]. ] could also visit, making Balaton a common meeting place for families and friends separated by the ] until 1989.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dortmund.de/en/leisure_and_culture/ruhr2010_en/art_creativity/balaton_1/index.html |title=German unity at Lake Balaton – a European history |publisher=Dortmund.de |access-date=January 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192740/http://www.dortmund.de/en/leisure_and_culture/ruhr2010_en/art_creativity/balaton_1/index.html |archive-date=2014-01-02 }}</ref> 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 number of weekend visitors to the region, including tens of thousands from Budapest, reached more than 600,000 by 1975.<ref name= "Ambio">{{cite journal |last1=Láng |first1=István |date=1978 |title=Hungary's Lake Balaton: A Program to Solve Its Problems |journal=Ambio |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=164–168 |jstor=4312371 }}</ref> It was visited by ordinary working Hungarians, and especially for subsidised holiday excursions by National Council of Trade Union ({{langx|hu|SZOT: Szakszervezetek Országos Tanácsának}}) members to exclusive hotels and small resorts ({{langx|hu|üdülő ingatlan}}) for them.<ref>{{cite web |title=Comradely Greetings from Lake Balaton |url=https://en.mandadb.hu/cikk/858387/Comradely_greetings_from_Lake_Balaton |website=MaNDA |access-date=July 27, 2024}}</ref>
It also attracted many ] and other residents of the ]. ] could also visit, making Balaton a common meeting place for families and friends separated by the ] until 1989.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dortmund.de/en/leisure_and_culture/ruhr2010_en/art_creativity/balaton_1/index.html |title=German unity at Lake Balaton – a European history |publisher=Dortmund.de |access-date=January 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192740/http://www.dortmund.de/en/leisure_and_culture/ruhr2010_en/art_creativity/balaton_1/index.html |archive-date=2014-01-02 }}</ref>


==Tourism== ==Tourism==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2012}}
⚫ The major resorts around the lake are ], ], and ]. ], another resort town on the southern shore, has been the site of ], a notable ] festival since 2007. Balatonkenese has hosted numerous traditional gastronomic events. Siófok is known for attracting young people to it because of its large clubs. Keszthely is the site of the ] and Balatonfüred is a historical bathing town which hosts the annual ].


⚫ The major resorts around the lake are ], ], and ]. ], another resort town on the southern shore, has been the site of ], a notable ] festival since 2007. Balatonkenese has hosted numerous traditional gastronomic events. Siófok is known for attracting young people to it because of its large clubs. Keszthely is the site of the ] and Balatonfüred is a historical bathing town which hosts the annual ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Linkon |first1=FD |title=Tihany, Balatonfüred and Lake Balaton: Pride of Veszprem, Hungary |url=https://www.tourola.eu/tihany-balatonfured-lake-balaton-veszprem/ |website=www.tourola.eu |date=14 June 2023 |publisher=Tourola |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref>
⚫ The peak tourist season extends from June until the end of August. The average water temperature during the summer is {{convert|25|C|F}}, which makes bathing and swimming popular on the lake. Most of the beaches consist of either grass, rocks, or the silty sand that also makes up most of the bottom of the lake. Many resorts have artificial sandy beaches and all beaches have step access to the water. 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. The ] Peninsula is a historical district. ] is a volcanic mountain and wine-growing region as well as a lakeside resort. The lake is almost completely surrounded by separated bike lanes to facilitate bicycle tourism.

Although the peak season at the lake is the summer, Balaton is also frequented during the winter, when visitors go ] or even skate, sledge, or ice-sail on the lake if it freezes over.
⚫ The peak tourist season extends from June until the end of August. The average water temperature during the summer is {{convert|25|C|F}}, which makes bathing and swimming popular on the lake. Most of the beaches consist of either grass, rocks, or the silty sand that also makes up most of the bottom of the lake. Many resorts have artificial sandy beaches and all beaches have step access to the water. 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. The ] Peninsula is a historical district. ] is a volcanic mountain and wine-growing region as well as a lakeside resort. The lake is almost completely surrounded by separated bike lanes to facilitate bicycle tourism. Although the peak season at the lake is the summer, Balaton is also frequented during the winter, when visitors go ] or even skate, sledge, or ice-sail on the lake if it freezes over.


] provides air service to Balaton (although most service is only seasonal). ] provides air service to Balaton (although most service is only seasonal).


Other resort towns include: ], ], ], ] and ]. Other resort towns include ], ], ], ], and ].

=== Sport ===
The annual Lake Balaton Crossing swim takes place in July. The race starts at Révfülöp and finishes at Balatonboglár for a total distance of 5.2 kilometres.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=Lake Balaton Crossing - the 5.2km classic swim. Raceday Buzz |url=https://racedaybuzz.com/lake-balaton-crossing/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |language=en-US}}</ref>


== Towns and villages == == Towns and villages ==
Line 94: Line 97:
== Gallery == == Gallery ==
{{wide image|Peter Stehlik 2010.09.09 005 2010.09.09 020-8 A images.jpg|2500px|Panorama from Balaton and Keszthely}} {{wide image|Peter Stehlik 2010.09.09 005 2010.09.09 020-8 A images.jpg|2500px|Panorama from Balaton and Keszthely}}
<gallery mode=packed heights=140> <gallery mode="packed" heights="140">
File:Balatonmáriafürdő, Hungary.jpg|] File:Balatonmáriafürdő, Hungary.jpg|]
File:Balatonalmadi06szept0005.jpg|] File:Balatonalmadi06szept0005.jpg|]
Line 107: Line 110:
File:Szigliget, vár 2.JPG|Castle at ] File:Szigliget, vár 2.JPG|Castle at ]
File:Benedictine Abbey on Tihany Peninsula - july 2007.jpg|] File:Benedictine Abbey on Tihany Peninsula - july 2007.jpg|]
File:A tihanyi apátság.jpg|Benedictine Abbey on Tihany Peninsula File:A tihanyi apátság.jpg|Benedictine Abbey on Tihany Peninsula
File:Zamárdi kilátás Kőhegyről.jpg|] File:Zamárdi kilátás Kőhegyről.jpg|]
File:A tihanyi félszigeten.jpg|On Tihany Peninsula File:A tihanyi félszigeten.jpg|On Tihany Peninsula
File:Naplemente a Balatonnál.jpg|Sunset at the lake File:Naplemente a Balatonnál.jpg|Sunset at the lake
File:Balatoni látkép.jpg|A view of the lake File:Balatoni látkép.jpg|A view of the lake
File:Balaton lake.jpg|View to lake Balaton from the Fonyod city
</gallery> </gallery>


Latest revision as of 18:12, 2 November 2024

Freshwater lake in Hungary
Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton
Location of Lake Balaton in Hungary.Location of Lake Balaton in Hungary.Lake Balaton
Location of Lake Balaton within Hungary
LocationHungary
Coordinates46°51′00″N 17°43′12″E / 46.85000°N 17.72000°E / 46.85000; 17.72000
TypeRift lake
Primary inflowsZala River
Primary outflowsSió
Catchment area5,174 km (1,998 sq mi)
Basin countriesHungary
Max. length78 km (48 mi)
Max. width14 km (8.7 mi)
Surface area600 km (230 sq mi)
Average depth3.3 m (11 ft)
Max. depth12.2 m (40 ft)
Water volume1.9 km (0.46 cu mi)
Residence time2 years
Shore length235 km (146 mi)
Surface elevation104.8 m (344 ft)
SettlementsKeszthely, Siófok, Balatonfüred (see list)
Ramsar Wetland
Designated17 March 1989
Reference no.421
Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Balaton (Hungarian: [ˈbɒlɒton]) is a freshwater rift lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. It is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of the region's foremost tourist destinations. The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and the canalized Sió is the only outflow.

The mountainous region of the northern shore is known both for its historic character and as a major wine region, while the flat southern shore is known for its resort towns. 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 class.

Name

In distinction to all other Hungarian endonyms for lakes, which universally bear the suffix -tó 'lake', Lake Balaton is referred to in Hungarian with a definite article; that is, a Balaton 'the Balaton'. It was called lacus Pelsodis or Pelso by the Romans. The name is Indo-European in origin, derived from Slavic *bolto (Czech bláto, Slovak blato, Polish błoto), meaning 'mud, swamp' (from earlier Proto-Slavic boltьno, cf. Slovene: Blatno jezero, Slovak: Blatenské jazero).

In January 846, the Slavic prince Pribina began to build a fortress as his seat of power and several churches in the region of Lake Balaton, in the territory of modern Zalavár surrounded by forests and swamps along the Zala River. His well-fortified castle and capital of the Lower Pannonian Principality became known as Blatnohrad or Moosburg (literally, 'Swamp Fortress'), and it served as a bulwark against both the Bulgarians and the Moravians.

The German name for the lake is Plattensee. It is unlikely it was given that name for being shallow because the adjective platt is a Greek loanword that was borrowed via French and entered general German vocabulary in the 17th century. It is also noteworthy that the average depth of Balaton (3.2 m or 10 ft) is not extraordinary for the area (cf. the average depth of the neighbouring Neusiedler See, which is roughly 1 m or 3.3 ft).

Climate

Map of Balaton in ancient times
Balaton seen from Sentinel-2 satellite

Lake Balaton affects precipitation in the local area. 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. The lake freezes over during winters. 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 2,000 years ago.

History

Detail of a silver plate from the Seuso Treasure with the inscription PELSO (i.e., 'Balaton')

It always has been an important location, both tactically and culturally(with many folk tales surrounding it). During the Ottoman wars played an important role in defending Royal Hungary where even battles were fought. 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. The construction of railways in 1861 and 1909 increased tourism substantially, but the post-war boom of the 1950s was much larger.

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 last major German offensive of World War II, Operation Spring Awakening, 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 battle was a German attack by Sepp Dietrich's Sixth Panzer Army and the Hungarian Third Army between 6 and 16 March 1945, and in the end, resulted in a Red Army victory. Several Ilyushin Il-2 wrecks have been pulled out of the lake after having been shot down during the later months of the war.

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 number of weekend visitors to the region, including tens of thousands from Budapest, reached more than 600,000 by 1975. It was visited by ordinary working Hungarians, and especially for subsidised holiday excursions by National Council of Trade Union (Hungarian: SZOT: Szakszervezetek Országos Tanácsának) members to exclusive hotels and small resorts (Hungarian: üdülő ingatlan) for them. It also attracted many East Germans and other residents of the Eastern Bloc. West Germans could also visit, making Balaton a common meeting place for families and friends separated by the Berlin Wall until 1989.

Tourism

The major resorts around the lake are Siófok, Keszthely, and Balatonfüred. Zamárdi, another resort town on the southern shore, has been the site of Balaton Sound, a notable electronic music festival since 2007. Balatonkenese has hosted numerous traditional gastronomic events. Siófok is known for attracting young people to it because of its large clubs. Keszthely is the site of the Festetics Palace and Balatonfüred is a historical bathing town which hosts the annual Anna Ball.

The peak tourist season extends from June until the end of August. The average water temperature during the summer is 25 °C (77 °F), which makes bathing and swimming popular on the lake. Most of the beaches consist of either grass, rocks, or the silty sand that also makes up most of the bottom of the lake. Many resorts have artificial sandy beaches and all beaches have step access to the water. 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. The Tihany Peninsula is a historical district. Badacsony is a volcanic mountain and wine-growing region as well as a lakeside resort. The lake is almost completely surrounded by separated bike lanes to facilitate bicycle tourism. 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.

Sármellék International Airport provides air service to Balaton (although most service is only seasonal).

Other resort towns include Balatonalmádi, Balatonboglár, Balatonlelle, Fonyód, and Vonyarcvashegy.

Sport

The annual Lake Balaton Crossing swim takes place in July. The race starts at Révfülöp and finishes at Balatonboglár for a total distance of 5.2 kilometres.

Towns and villages

Towns and villages alongside Lake Balaton.

North shore

From east to west:

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

South shore

From east to west:

Balatonakarattya - Balatonaliga - Balatonvilágos - Sóstó - Szabadifürdő - Siófok - Széplak - Zamárdi - Szántód - Balatonföldvár - Balatonszárszó - Balatonszemes - Balatonlelle - Balatonboglár - Fonyód - Fonyód–Alsóbélatelep - Bélatelep - Balatonfenyves - Balatonmáriafürdő - Balatonkeresztúr - Balatonberény - Fenékpuszta

Gallery

Panorama from Balaton and Keszthely

See also

References

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