The largest lake in Central Europe, a shallow, sunny 'Hungarian Sea'.
Surface area
592 km²
Maximum depth
about 12 m
Elevation
105 m
Continent
Europe
Countries
Hungary
Did you know?
Because it is so shallow, Balaton warms quickly in summer and can freeze solid enough to walk on in winter.
Little-known fact
Landlocked Hungary treats Balaton as its seaside, lining its shores with resorts and vineyards.
Highlights
- Largest lake in Central Europe
- Shallow and quick to warm
- Hungary's inland seaside
Life in the Lake Balaton
The fish and animals, waterbirds and water plants — including some of the rarest — that this water supports.
Animals & fish
Northern pike
A long, torpedo-shaped ambush predator that lurks among weeds across the cool rivers and lakes of the north.
Wels catfish
A monstrous European catfish that can top 2.5 m and has learned to beach itself to catch pigeons.
Waterbirds
Grey heron
A patient, statue-still angler that stalks the shallows of rivers and lakes across the Old World.
Mute swan
The great white swan of European waters, gliding in pairs that often mate for life.
Mallard
The familiar green-headed dabbling duck — ancestor of most domestic ducks — found on waters worldwide.
Water plants & reeds
Common reed
The tall, feathery grass that forms the vast reedbeds fringing rivers and lakes, sheltering countless birds.
Interactive · 3D dive
How deep does a lake go?
A lake is layered from the sunlit, weed-filled shallows down to a cold, dark bed. Tap a zone to dive the submersible through the water column — and meet the life that belongs at each depth.
Tip: hover the column to tilt it · tap a layer to dive
Littoral Zone
The warm, bright band close to shore where sunlight reaches the bottom. Reeds, water lilies and rooted plants grow thickly here, making it the busiest, most crowded part of the whole lake.
Who lives here