Little Balaton, Protected wetland in Zala County, Hungary
Little Balaton is a shallow wetland at the mouth of the Zala River, southwest of Lake Balaton. Its open water lies in a flat band edged by a narrow strip of low green and brownish vegetation, with no structures or boats on the banks. The area is divided into the Hídvégi and Fenéki reservoirs, created by dikes and a pumping system.
The area was originally part of Lake Balaton itself, but underwent radical change in the 19th century due to agricultural drainage projects. Those interventions reduced water coverage substantially and created the marshy landscape visible today.
The name Kis-Balaton means "Little Balaton". István Fekete set his 1957 youth novel Tüskevár in this marshland, and in 1956 István Homoki Nagy filmed Cimborák – Nádi szélben here. Zalavár's Vár-sziget holds a rebuilt Árpád-era church and a memorial column to Cyril and Methodius.
Some areas are easy to visit, such as Kányavári Island and the reserve in Kápolnapuszta, while other sections require guided tours. Visitors should bring comfortable clothing and sturdy footwear, as paths can wind through marshy terrain and grasslands.
István Fekete's 1957 youth novel Tüskevár is set in this region and was still among Hungary's twelve most popular novels in 2005. István Homoki Nagy shot his nature film Cimborák – Nádi szélben here in 1956.
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