Hungary’s Lake Velence Nears Record Low as Drought Deepens

Lake Velence, Hungary’s third-largest lake and a popular resort area about 40 kilometers west of Budapest, is expected to fall to a new low this summer because of climate change and decades of poor water management. The shrinking lake threatens both the local tourism industry and the ecosystem that depends on it.

According to Hungary’s National Water Directorate, the water level in Agárd, a small holiday town on the lake’s southern shore, was recently measured at 56 centimeters. That is only 3 centimeters above the historic low of 53 centimeters set in 2022, the last year Hungary suffered an extreme drought.

At the start of 2026, the lake level was about 80 centimeters. Experts warned that without significant rainfall, the water could drop by half a centimeter a day and reach 30 centimeters by the end of summer. Such a level would make boating and swimming difficult or impossible.

The lake is also an important natural habitat for many water birds, which could be harmed if the water continues to recede. Tibor Horanyi of the Association of Large Lakes told Reuters, “The water level will drop by at least 25-30 centimeters in the next 30-40 days, and the historic low will be broken within days.”