Fertő-Hanság National Park, National park in Győr-Moson-Sopron County, Hungary
Fertő-Hanság National Park is a protected area in northwestern Hungary that spans wetland zones, open grassland, and forested sections. These three zones lie close to the Austrian border and provide habitat for numerous bird species, amphibians, and rare plants.
The park's predecessor, Fertő Lake National Park, was created in 1991 from the Fertő Lake Landscape Protection Area. It took its present name in 1994, when the Hanság Landscape Protection Area was attached, and on 24 April 1994 it was inaugurated jointly with the Austrian Neusiedler See–Seewinkel National Park. The landscape was declared a biosphere reserve in 1979 and listed under the Ramsar Convention in 1989.
The name Fertő comes from Hungarian and means swamp, reflecting the marshy character found in large sections of the reserve. Visitors today observe grazing livestock and reed harvesting, traditional activities that have shaped the landscape for generations.
Several information centers throughout the park offer maps and organize guided walks through the different habitats. The trails vary in length, with some passing through wet areas that require sturdy footwear.
The Fertő Lake within the park is considered the westernmost steppe lake in Europe and contains saline water that only a few fish and plant species can tolerate. This particular composition creates a distinct ecosystem quite different from other Hungarian lakes.
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