| | | |  back to geography of hungary | | | | Main rivers
The country is separated into two parts by the River Danube, the second largest river in Europe after the Volga and the main watercourse in Central Europe. Of its total length of 2,860 kilometres, 417 kilometres run across Hungary from the Northwest point of the country to the southern border below Mohács. (An approximately 140 km section of the river, between Rajka and the estuary of the Ipoly, constitutes the border with Slovakia.) The average water yield of the Danube at Budapest is 2000 cubic metres per second.
The second largest river is the Tisza, the Hungarian section of which is 596 kilometres long. The Tisza runs across the Great Plain, meandering on flat land all the way along, and reaches the southern border to finally run into the River Danube in Yugoslavia.
The largest tributaries of the River Danube are the Dráva on the southern border, the Lajta and the Rába (together with the Marcal and the Rábca) on the Small Plain, and on the left shore of the Danube. the Ipoly, which runs alongside the border with Slovakia.
The largest tributaries of the River Tisza include the Bodrog, Sajó and Zagyva on the right bank and the Szamos, Hármas-Körös and Maros on the left bank.
Largest lakes
Of the 1200 natural and artificial lakes of the country, Lake Balaton is the largest and internationally best known. It is the largest lake in Central Europe and an important destination for domestic and international tourism. The lake is 72 kilometres long; its width varies between 1.5 and 11 kilometres; the water surface is 596 square kilometres. The average depth of the lake is 3 metres, with the exception of the Tihany strait, where the lake floor plummets to 10(11 metres. The lake is supplied by the River Zala, and the surplus water is carried to the River Danube through the Sió canal.
Lake Velence occupies 26 square kilometres. Of this, only 12 square kilometres is open water surface, the rest is covered by reeds. It is also a popular resort. Occasionally, the water level has to be increased by artificial water supplementation.
Of Lake Fertõ, situated on the Austrian border, one quarter, the southern section (75 square kilometres) belongs to Hungary.
Thermal Waters
Hungary is rich in thermal waters: its thermal water stock is significant even on the global level, and it is unique in Europe.
Most mineral and thermal waters contain dissolved minerals too, and therefore these waters have medicinal effect, i.e. they are suitable for bathing and drinking cures. At the moment, Hungary has more than 1,000 wells producing thermal water over 30 °C, of which most of the wells produce water with medicinal effect. Three quarters of the wells are located on the Great Plain.
The country has approximately 150 thermal spas, including 36 special spas, with water containing radioactive components, sulphur and acids, salt-bromide-carbonate and iodine. is The Tapolca bath in Northeast Hungary is the only cave bath in Europe. Hévíz near Lake Balaton is the best known thermal lake in Europe (with 33 °C water temperature). Internationally renowned spas: Budapest, Hévíz, Balatonfüred, Harkány, Bük, Sárvár, Hajdúszoboszló, Gyula etc.
In the year 2000 the country produced 385 million litres of mineral water. | | | | | | | | | | | | Most of the tourist guide like the walks, the "twelves" are provided by special lens of : Török András: " Budapest - A critical guide " |  | | | | | Do you have any questions or comments about Budapest? Contact us during working hours to speak with a local Customer Service Representative in English.
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