Lake Balaton faces ecological crisis due to water levels and heat

Gábor Vasas, Director of the Balaton Limnological Research Institute, has raised alarms regarding the critical state of Lake Balaton’s water balance and ecological health. While current water levels have not yet reached the record low of 2003, the lake is facing a prolonged period of negative water balance driven by expanding drought conditions in its catchment area.

Climate change has introduced unprecedented challenges, including extreme heatwaves that caused water temperatures to reach nearly 30°C even at depths of 3 to 5 meters. This thermal shift has triggered rapid changes in water transparency and widespread algae blooms that are no longer confined to the western basin.

Additionally, the lake faces threats from rising salinity, invasive species, and anthropogenic pressures. Vasas noted that while massive mosquito swarms have inconvenienced tourism, they serve a vital ecological role by removing organic matter from the lake's sediment. He also highlighted concerns regarding large-scale construction projects, such as a 99-unit apartment complex near the Pogányvölgyi-víz mouth, which threatens the lake's natural shoreline zones.