Lake Balaton water levels decline amid rising salinity

Lake Balaton is experiencing a significant decline in water levels and rising salinity due to prolonged drought and high evaporation rates. As of late September, the average water level dropped to 32 centimeters, down from 72 centimeters in early July.

Gábor Vasas, Director General of the Limnological Research Institute, warned that the lake has maintained a negative water balance since 2000, meaning more water leaves the lake than enters it. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the lake's shallow average depth of 3 to 3.5 meters.

In addition to falling levels, the concentration of minerals and salts has increased from 450 mg/l fifty years ago to between 620 and 690 mg/l today. Experts also noted ecological concerns, including the spread of algae, invasive species, and the impact of human development, which has resulted in approximately 70% of the shoreline being built up, reducing the natural filtration capacity of reed beds.