April 19- 26, 2008 - centraleuroperally.com

Central Europe Rally

LAC BALATON

While the turbulent history of the regions' populations deprived the country access to the sea (before 1920, the Hungarian territory also included what is today Croatia), the evolution of tectonics resulted in a slight trench at the foot of the ridge of Transdanubia. As a result, Hungary has a network of a number of lakes, including the Balaton, which is the largest expanse of fresh water in Europe.
78 km long and around 15 km wide, Lake Balaton has all the advantages of an enclosed sea. Nature has got it right here, and the first banks of the lake are around one hundred kilometres from Budapest. City-dwellers seeking to get away can thus enjoy a perfect holiday, with yachting, fishing and cycling on the agenda. The numerous seaside resorts that have built up on the Lake's banks also attract tourists from neighbouring countries in summer.

Figures

• 78 km long
• 15 km wide (1.5 km at the Tihany peninsular)
• 3,9 m deep on average (12 m at its deepest)
• 600 km2
• 30 sources and rivers feed the lake