Hungary's Lake Velence is drying up

A dead fish lies half-decayed on the shore. Its eyes have been picked out by the birds.

Hungary's Lake Velence will likely experience a massive fish kill. That's because oxygen levels in the body of water are too low, according to environmental experts. This means more and more fish will suffocate.

Hungary has seen temperatures soar to 40 degrees Celsius, with barely any rain. This heat is having a major impact on the country's third-largest natural lake.

Its water has never been particularly deep, but the current situation is dire. Water levels have been recorded in Agard, on the southern shore, since 1933. It dropped to a historic low in September 2022, measuring just 53 centimeters. Yet as of today, August 4, the water level has dropped to a mere 29 centimeters (11 inches).

As long as it doesn't rain and temperatures remain hot, the water level will continue to drop every day, by half a centimeter per day on average. The water is currently evaporating at such a fast pace that there may soon be no continuous body of water left, only isolated pools. This could mark a critical tipping point for the lake.

The impact of Hungary's ongoing drought is already clearly visible. The lake has receded by dozens of meters. Ground once covered in water is now so dry that the soil is cracking. The reed belt surrounding the lake, which serves as a habitat for numerous bird species, is now largely rooted in dry soil.

But not all living creatures are suffering under the current conditions: that's evident from a constant hum in the air near the water's edge. As fish and aquatic plants find their habitats shrinking, flies, bacteria, and other decomposers take over, breaking down what the drought leaves behind.

The water shortage isn't just changing the lake — it's changing the entire region. Lake Velence is a popular tourist destination, located just 50 kilometers from Hungary's capital, Budapest. It is considered less crowded than nearby Lake Balaton.