What is Neusiedler See?

Neusiedler See Fertő tó
Neusiedler See Fertő tó - Satellite image of the Neusiedler See Satellite image of the Neusiedler See
Coordinates	Coordinates:
Lake type	steppe lake
Primary sources	precipitation, Wulka
Primary outflows	evaporation (90%) Einserkanal (artificial)
Catchment area	1,120 km²
Basin countries	Austria, Hungary
Max length	36 km
Max width	12 km
Surface area	315 km²
Average depth	1 m
Max depth	1.8 m
Surface elevation	115.45 m
Settlements	Neusiedl am See, Rust

Fertő/Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Lake Neusiedl
State Party	Austria and  Hungary
Type	Cultural
Criteria	v
Reference	772
Region	Europe and North America
Inscription History
Inscription	2001  (25th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

Lake Neusiedl (German: Neusiedlersee'; Hungarian: Fertő tó) is the second largest steppe lake in Central Europe, straddling the Austrian–Hungarian border. The lake covers 315 km², of which 240 km² is on the Austrian side and 75 km² on the Hungarian side. The lake's drainage basin has an area of about 1,120 km². From north to south, the lake is about 36 km long, and it is between 6 km and 12 km wide from east to west. On average, the lake's surface is 115.45 m above the Adriatic Sea and the lake is no more than 1.8 m deep.

Water level fluctuations

In the past rainfall and aridity caused significant floods (which in 1768 enlarged the lake to its maximum documented size of 515 km²) and significant decreases in the lake's level, respectively although frequently there seemed to be no apparent connection with the weather situation.

Stratigraphy shows that the lake bed has totally dried up at least 100 times since its formation (18,000 - 14,000 years B.P.). During recent history the lake's complete disappearance has been documented in considerable detail on several occasions, e.g. in 1740–1742, 1811–1813, and most recently in 1866, when the private diary of a local, Gottlieb Wenzel, noted that he crossed the seabed on June 4 without soiling his boots. Parts of the lake bed were claimed for agriculture; wheat and turnips were being planted. However, in 1871 the lake began to return and by the spring of 1876 it had already reassumed its usual size. The last (brief and partial) vanishing took place during the summer of 1949 when the northern part of the lake bed (to the approximate latitude of Podersdorf) fell dry for a few weeks. Each time the drying-up of the seabed caused major environmental disruptions because the humidifying and temperature buffering effect of the large water body was absent, and because the winds blew large amounts of salty dust into the surrounding villages. On earlier occasions the lake was sometimes referred to as a "swamp", suggesting a very low water level with an expansion of reeds throughout the lake bed. Two records dated to 1318 and 1324, respectively mention a "river", implying that at this time the lake might have been reduced to a central body of water running from north to south.

Today the water level is controlled by a sluice on Hungarian territory near Fertőújlak, and bilateral issues are dealt with by the Austro-Hungarian water commission which was established in 1956. However, comparatively minor fluctuations of the lake's level continue to occur. In 1965 the lake gained 100 million cubic meters of water within a single month, raising its level by 35 cm. The water level decreased to a similar extent (by 30 cm) within one year as a result of the drought of 2003. Both types of events are perfectly within the normal range, and because of the shallowness of the seabed can be either exacerbated or compensated by the effects of wind pressure, which can temporarily raise or reduce the local water level by as much as 75 cm.

Before the regulation works of the 19th century, the lake extended in the southeast to the marshlands of the Hanság (German: Waasen) which have been increasingly drained and claimed for agriculture from the 16th century onward. Originally, the lake was thus closely connected to the Danube and the Rába river systems.

Nature and wildlife

Most of the lake is surrounded by reeds which serve as a habitat for wildlife (making the lake an important resting place for migratory birds) and are harvested in winter as soon as the ice is solid enough. This serves a double purpose, one ecological (removal of the bulk of organic matter that would otherwise decay in the lake) and one economic (the reed is sold for various purposes, mostly related to construction and housing). During the summer months, there are occasional reed fires, as dry reed is easily flammable, and fires spread quickly because of the almost constant wind. Water quality is determined by temperature, wind, and by the amount of salt and mud emanating with the ground water from the sediments.

Several plans for dams and other intrusive construction works which would have destroyed the lake and its biotopes were discussed during the first half of the 20th century but, luckily, came to nothing. In 1971 plans for a bridge across the Austrian part of the lake were thwarted by environmentalists.

In 1993 the National Park Neusiedler See-Seewinkel gained international acceptance as a IUCN Category II preserve. In 2001 the national parks in Austria and Fertő-Hanság in Hungary were together accepted as a World Heritage Site.

Towns and villages around the lake

The more important towns lying on the lake's shore are Illmitz, Podersdorf am See, Weiden, Neusiedl am See, Jois, Winden, Breitenbrunn, Purbach am Neusiedlersee, Donnerskirchen, Oggau, Rust and Mörbisch in Austria, and Fertőrákos, Fertőboz, Fertőd, Balf und Fertőújlak in Hungary, with the communities of Illmitz, Apetlon und Podersdorf am See forming the so-called Seewinkel (lake corner), which is located between the lake and the Hungarian border.

Tourism

The region of Lake Neusiedl draws significant numbers of tourists. The lake is known as the "Sea of the Viennese", as it offers ample opportunities for sailing and windsurfing. There is also some commercial fishing.

Low water levels pose a problem for sailing and commercial shipping, as boats hit the ground more frequently and mooring sites can become temporarily unusable. However, it somewhat facilitates the annual freestyle mass crossing of the lake from Mörbisch to Illmitz. Everybody who can swim and is more than 160 cm in height can participate in this sportive event, which was revived in 2004.

See also

• List of lakes
• List of World Heritage Sites in Europe

•  • [ e] World Heritage Sites in Austria
Cultural Landscape of Fert / Neusiedlersee (with ) Graz Cultural Landscape of Hallstatt-Dachstein Salzkammergut Palace and Gardens of Schnbrunn Salzburg Semmering Railway Vienna Cultural Landscape of Wachau

•  • [ e] World Heritage Sites in Hungary

Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrssy Avenue Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (with Slovakia) Early Christian Necropolis of Pcs (Sopianae) Fertő / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (with ) Old Village of Hollkő and its Surroundings Hortobgy National Park – the Puszta Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape