Why are we concreting Balaton despite 10 thousand tons of midges? 🦟

For Balaton shoreline communities, the question of how long the lake’s natural balance can be maintained amid continuous human interventions is becoming increasingly urgent. According to the latest data, while a severe algal bloom was avoided, ten thousand tons of midges appeared in the water instead, clearly indicating the lake’s ecological disturbances.

Vasas Gábor, director general of the Hun-Ren Balatoni Limnológiai Kutatóintézet, says the water balance situation remains alarming. Although the water level appears frighteningly low to the human eye – currently only 37 centimetres on the Siófok gauge – the lake’s average depth is still around 3–3.5 metres. The expert recalled that in 2003 the level dropped to as low as 16 centimetres, yet the current state cannot be considered natural either.

The biggest problem, however, is the disappearance of the shores and reed beds. Barely any of the natural buffer zones that ensure the lake’s health remain around Balaton, while construction and concreting continue. Climate change impacts are much harder for Balaton to withstand in this condition than in a more natural state. 🦟

Locally, this means that long-term tourism and livelihoods around Balaton could also be jeopardised. No matter how many new residential parks are built along the shore, nature will eventually reclaim what is hers – and the freshly constructed terraces offer no protection against the lake’s retreat.

Source: hvg.hu