You can get very close to nature at Lake Tisza. Explore the bird sanctuaries, go boating, or just cycle around the lake. They are all good choices for a small trip.
Lake Tisza is the second largest lake in Hungary and the largest artificial lake in the Northern Great Plain. Village tourism quickly began around the lake.
There are beaches open in the area and hikers are likely to visit the area too. It’s no coincidence: the wonderful environment and the wildwater world can be explored on foot, by bike, by boat or even on horseback.
History of the formation of Lake Tisza and its environment
Lake Tisza is located on an area of 127 km2, with open water surfaces, islands, backwaters and shallow shorelines alternating on its surface. It is 27 kilometers long and there is a 43 km2 island, giving it a truly exciting environment.
As I mentioned above, the lake was created artificially and is also called the Kiskörei reservoir. The Kisköre Power Plant was built in 1973 with a dam to regulate the floods of the Tisza and to help the water supply of the Great Plain.
The final charge was completed in the 1990s. The lake has a well-established ecology and bird sanctuary: Since 1999, The Hortobágy National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a result of this, tourism and nature conservation efforts in the area have come to the forefront.
There are five basins in the area of Lake Tisza. Poroszló Basin is one of the most popular, which is a favorite of hikers too, as there is where the nature trail is located.
Crossing the “hundred belts bridge” to the north, we find ourselves in the Tiszavalki Basin, where we can visit the Lake Tisza Bird Reserve.
South of the Poroszló Basin, there are the Sarudi Basin and the Abádszalók Bay, where water sports enthusiasts can find many opportunities. To the east, we find the Tiszafüred Basin, the smallest of the five.
Within the protected area of the Hortobágy National Park, we distinguish between the southern and northern areas. The northern part contains the nearly 3400 hectares of Tiszafüred Bird Reserve.
The main role of the area is to protect the nesting birds and the maintenance of priority areas such as the Háromágú, the Hordód or the Great Morotva.
The southern area which is nearly 3,600 hectares includes the Poroszló and Sarudi Basins: the main purpose of which is to protect areas of special nature conservation importance to Csapó or Óhalász-holt-Tisza.
Sights at Lake Tisza
Of course, nature plays a key role at Lake Tisza, so let’s keep this in mind when planning a trip here. The best time to enjoy a getaway here is if the weather and environmental conditions are good enough to roam every corner of the area.
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Erdőtelek Arboretum
Erdőtelek Arboretum is a little oasis, which is worth a visit. In the 20th century, the garden which belongs to the castle was made to flourish by Dr. József Kovács with his collection of living trees.
Among the more than seven hundred species, there are many rarities. Already at the entrance, a beautiful Crimean lime tree, North American red oak, and wild chestnut welcome the visitors.
It is worth noting the rare yews growing here, whose fruits are not red but yellow. It also has the largest creeping juniper in the country, with branches, stretching up to 90 meters.
There is also an artificial small lake in the English Park, which gives home to aquatic plants, fish and frogs.
Riding around Lake Tisza
When the weather is nice, one of the best activities is cycling and there is plenty of opportunity around Lake Tisza. We can also ride the distance at a leisurely pace as the terrain is not too difficult and we can enjoy the view too.
It is a very good family program, where we can explore the beautiful surroundings of the area and dip in on different beaches on a summer day.
If we don’t want to organize a multi-day bike tour, to explore the lake and its surroundings like that, we can complete a small part in as little as 4 hours: the distance between Poroszló and Tiszafüred can be cut off.
The lost Village
The lost village is a must for true adventurers. In 1876, the Tisza destroyed Tiszahalasz and 23 other villages, so the 800-year-old village was destroyed too, but the people survived.
We can reach the place through the Óhalász – Holt – Tisza, which also delights the visitors with a wonderful field of water lilies.
It is true that from above, everything suddenly becomes clear and understandable: the observation tower on the island reveals the remains of the former village.
If we would like to explore parts of the area where only a very small number of people can go, be sure to hire a qualified tour guide.
Exciting boat trips
And if we’re already in the extreme, cycling and discovering the village, which is hundreds of years old, we should try the boat tour on the backwaters. The Tiszafüred Bird Reserve gives a home for many waterfowls and has a unique fauna and flora which is part of the World Heritage.
If we pay for a group boat tour along the backwaters and reeds, it will give us a breathtaking experience which we will never forget. On the way, we can see egrets, herons, Saker, water lilies and nuphars.
However, if we are afraid of boating, we can walk around the area through the wooden bridge system of the Lake Tisza Water Promenade.
And with observation towers, we will not only see wildlife close-up but also we can feel like walking on the water. Well, let’s admit, not everyone has done it so far.
Fish stairs in Kisköre
The natural wonders are not over here: the Kiskörei Fish Stairs of Kisköre is important from an ecological point of view and is also an exciting sight.
It was created to ensure a continuous connection between Lake Tisza and the Tisza River. The one-and-a-half-kilometer canal consists of 37 water steps and a sluice on the shores of which we can admire the fish, and listen to the rustling of water – A real stress relief program.
Lake Tisza Ecocenter
The Lake Tisza Ӧkocentrum presents the wildlife and natural treasures of the area in a playful and interactive way.
There is where we will find one of the biggest attractions of Lake Tisza: Europe’s largest freshwater aquarium system, which contains all the fishes and floras of the Tisza.
We can also see the feeding of otters at close range, stroke the deer, and look out over the whole area from the lookout.
Fishpond railway
Thanks to the Fishpond railway, further parts of the fishpond system can be easily discovered.
The railway runs along the dam of the fishponds, which is about 5 kilometers long, and while aboard the train, we can admire the landscape and the extraordinary wildlife.
Walking along an approximately 460-meter-long plank road from the terminal, we can see wildlife from a height.
Beaches in Tiszafüred
If we want to enjoy a little less active getaway and the weather allows us, we can relax on many beaches in the area.
The free beach of Tiszafüred is a pleasant place not only for bathing, but also there are many shady places and buffets for our convenience, and as its name implies, all for free.
The Dream Beach at Dinnyéshát is a real romantic spot, with such expectations of a beach, thanks to the many wonderful flower beds. Sunbathing islands, grassy areas and shady areas alternate, so everyone can find the right place for themselves to relax.
The Tiszafüred Thermal Beach and Spa await with many pools and wellness facilities for visitors. And for those who want to play sports, there is a volleyball court and a football field.
Why Lake Tisza is a must-go
One thing is for sure, a visit to Lake Tisza will be a lifetime experience. We can see and admire natural treasures from close-ups that are nowhere else in the world.
Nowadays, when the flora and fauna around us are constantly dying, Lake Tisza is an inestimable treasure that we must take care of.
Images
info-budapest.com
tiszafured.hu
strand.hu
vexton.hu
szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu
programturizmus.hu
