Located between the Danube and Tisza rivers, the Site includes four shallow open water sodic-alkaline pans, three major sodic-alkaline reedbeds and an associated mosaic of saline marshes, meadows, aquaculture ponds and irrigated land. It is the largest and most important area of saline lakes and flats between the Danube and Tisza rivers in the Great Hungarian Plain. The Site supports notable species of breeding, migrating, wintering and resident birds, including the great bustard (Otis tarda), pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) and red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis). It hosts several noteworthy plant species and communities endemic to the Pannonic biogeographic region, including Aster tripolium ssp. pannonicus. The lakes play an important role in the retention and storage of water and the regulation of the groundwater level in the surrounding area. Currently the Site is mainly used as extensive grassland, and for reed harvesting and other agricultural activities. The main threats to the Site’s ecological character are agricultural pollution and the loss of groundwater due to the overexploitation of the aquifers and severe droughts.

Last publication date: 25-11-2015