Like Lake Balaton, Lake Neusiedl is one of the few steppe lakes in Europe and the largest lake in Central Europe with no outflow. It is predominantly on Austrian territory and, in terms of area, slightly on Hungarian territory.
The lake is characterized by its reed belt, its shallow depth and its mild but windy climate. Its unique fauna and flora are protected by the establishment of the two national parks, Neusiedler See-Seewinkel and Fertő-Hanság, as well as the designation of the Fertő / Neusiedler See cultural landscape as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of the Austrian part of the lake is owned by the Esterházy family.
Sports
Summer:
Tourism mainly benefits from events and facilities for sailing, surfing, kite surfing, paddling, beach volleyball, inline skating, horse riding and cycling from the lake. Among other things, there is a cycling circuit around the lake, the Neusiedler See Cycle Path, with a length of 135 km.
Well-known sporting events are the annual lake crossing from Mörbisch to Illmitz and the Austriathlon in Podersdorf. Every year at the end of April the Surf Worldcup takes place in Neusiedl. The Austrian youth championship in sailing takes place every two years in a yacht club
During the summer months, a regatta is held somewhere by the lake on almost every weekend, from state championships to joint trips, a lot can be observed.
Winter:
In winter, sometime between mid-December and February, the lake becomes the largest ice rink in Central Europe. In good years the surface is mirror-smooth and free of snow, sometimes rough like a washboard with flat surfaces in between when there is too much wind over long distances. Ice rushes one and a half meters high can even form in places. In addition to ice skating, the winter sports ice sailing, ice surfing, ice kite surfing and even cycling with spikes are practiced. Cross-country skiing is possible on a 15 km long, groomed slope in Podersdorf.
Water temperature
The water of the shallow lake (approx. 2m) quickly takes on the temperature of the air. On particularly hot days, water temperatures of up to 30 ° C can easily be reached; however, the lake also cools down quickly when a thunderstorm front passes through. In summer an average of 22 to 23 ° C is measured.
The Neusiedler See is not a freshwater lake, it has a slightly higher salt concentration; with 0.2% approx. Due to the cloudiness, despite the shallow depth, hardly any sunlight comes to the bottom of the lake, which, in addition to the salinity, prevents algae growth and fouling.
Course of the year
Spring is marked by high water levels and the arrival of migratory birds.
In summer the water level drops by up to 80 centimeters and tourists and water sports enthusiasts populate the lake. In the reed belt, clear ponds without drainage, the so-called blanks, are created in which the birds find their food. The offspring are slowly fledging in the reeds.
Due to the heat-storing function of the lake, autumn usually comes late and mild, the migratory birds leave again and the lake slowly begins to fill up. The water level is regulated to prevent flooding in the flat surrounding area.
Almost every year the lake freezes over for a few days or weeks in winter. When it snows and storms, the whole area sinks into snowdrifts. Winter is over when the thawed ice sheets, driven by the strong northwest wind, pile up on the eastern shore of the lake to form a meter-high ice rush.
The lido on the lake were expanded, partly with Objective 1 funds from the European Union. Podersdorf am See has established itself as the center of tourism on Lake Neusiedl. The municipality has the highest number of overnight stays, the widest range and is located on the only reed-free stretch of beach on the lake.
The Neuseeider See is also called the “sea or bathtub of the Viennese”.