Lake Öreg, Lake and Ramsar site in Tata, Hungary
Lake Öreg is an artificial body of water in the Carpathian Basin near Tata, surrounded by marshes and wetlands. The shallow edges merge into reed belts while open water areas form resting zones for migratory birds.
The water body received permanent Ramsar status in August 1997, replacing an earlier protection rule that applied only seasonally. This change followed decades of efforts to protect the wetlands throughout the entire year.
Communities around the water refer to it as the Old Lake because of its considerable size. Fishers still work with nets and flat boats similar to those used for centuries on this shallow body of water.
The best access to the lake runs along paths on the northern and eastern shores, where observation points offer views over the water. Shallow shore areas may flood in spring, so sturdy footwear is advisable.
Observers regularly count large groups of Bean Geese and Great White Egrets here during migration season, using the shallow water as a resting place. The birds often gather in the early morning hours along the eastern shore before moving on.
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