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HU005
Lake Balaton
Location Hungary, Somogy,Veszprém,Zala
Central coordinates 17o 54.00' East  46o 55.00' North
IBA criteria C2, C3
Area 59,985 ha
Altitude 104 - 135m
Year of IBA assessment 2002

Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society



Ornithological information This site is an important area for wintering wildfowl, especially diving ducks.

Site description 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.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Bean Goose Anser fabalis passage  2001  2,750 individuals  unknown  C3  Least Concern 
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons passage  2001  1,500 individuals  unknown  C3  Least Concern 
Greylag Goose Anser anser passage  2001  1,750 individuals  unknown  C3  Least Concern 
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos passage  2001  10,500-25,000 individuals  unknown  C3  Least Concern 
Common Pochard Aythya ferina passage  2001  6,000-10,000 individuals  unknown  C2  Least Concern 
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula passage  2001  7,500 individuals  unknown  C3  Least Concern 
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula passage  2001  1,500-10,000 individuals  unknown  C3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Balaton - HUBF30002 Birds Directive 59,483 is identical to site 58,073  
Lake Balaton Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 59,800 protected area overlaps with site 59,800  
Tapolcai-medence - HUBF20028 Habitats Directive 2,301 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Tihanyi-félsziget - HUBF20006 Habitats Directive 774 protected area overlaps with site 103  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Standing freshwater  100%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture 100%
tourism/recreation 100%
urban/industrial/transport 20%
water management 100%

Management considerations 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.

Protection status National None International High59,800 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Balaton, 59,800 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Lake Balaton. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife