Rustic morning on Lake Balaton in Fonyod by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About "Rustic morning on Lake Balaton in Fonyod"

by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About the artwork

Lake Balaton is a lake in the Transdanubia region of Hungary, and it is also the largest lake in central Europe. Located in western Hungary, the lake has an elongated shape: its length is 79 km, its greatest width 15 km. The maximum depth is 12 metres, but the average depth is only three metres, which makes the water relatively warm in summer. Partly because of this, the lake is one of the country's main tourist attractions. In winter, however, you can enjoy beautiful dramatic sunsets there along with the swans.

The mountainous area on the north coast is known for its historical character and as an important wine region, while the flat south coast is known for its seaside resorts. Balatonfüred and Hévíz developed early on as holiday resorts for the wealthy, but it was not until the late 19th century that landowners, ruined by grape lice attacking their vines, began building summer houses to rent out to the fast-growing middle class.

Lake Balaton influences precipitation in the area. The area receives about 5-7 cm more precipitation than most of Hungary, resulting in more cloudy days and less extreme temperatures. The microclimate around Lake Balaton has also made the region ideal for viticulture. The Mediterranean climate, combined with the fertile soil, has made the region remarkable for wine production since Roman times two thousand years ago.