Neusiedler Lake

Lake Neusiedl is the second largest steppe lake in Central Europe, straddling the AustrianHungarian border. The lake covers 315 Square Kilometer, of which 240 Square Kilometer is on the Austrian side and 75 Square Kilometer on the Hungarian side. The lake's drainage basin has an area of about 1,120 Square Kilometer. From north to south, the lake is about 36 km long, and it is between 6 km and 12 km wide from east to west. On average, the lake's surface is 115.45 m above the Adriatic Sea and the lake is no more than 1.8 m deep. Most of the lake is surrounded by reeds which serve as a habitat for wildlife (making the lake an important resting place for migratory birds) and are harvested in winter as soon as the ice is solid enough.In 1993 the National Park Neusiedler See-Seewinkel gained international acceptance as an IUCN Category II preserve.The region of Lake Neusiedl draws significant numbers of tourists. The lake is known as the "Sea of the Viennese", as it offers ample opportunities for sailing and windsurfing. There is also some commercial fishing.