Neusiedler See

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Neusiedler See Fertő tó
View from Podersdorf to the west, 120 degrees panoramic photograph
Coordinates	47°50′N 16°45′ECoordinates: 47°50′N 16°45′E
Lake type	steppe lake
Primary sources	precipitation, Wulka
Primary outflows	evaporation (90%) Einserkanal (artificial)
Catchment area	1120 km²
Basin countries	Austria, Hungary
Max length	36 km
Max width	12 km
Surface area	315 km²
Average depth	1 m
Max depth	1.8 m
Surface elevation	115.45 m
Settlements	Neusiedl am See, Rust

**Fertö/Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape**^a
**UNESCO World Heritage Site**

State Party	Austria and Hungary
Type	Cultural
Criteria	v
Identification	#772
Region^b	Europe and North America
Inscription History
Formal Inscription:	2001 25th Session
a Name as officially inscribed on the WH List b As classified officially by UNESCO

The Neusiedler See (the German name for Lake Neusiedl; known in Hungarian as Fertő tó) is the second largest steppe lake in Central Europe, straddling the Austrian–Hungarian border. The lake covers 315 km², of which 240 km² is on the Austrian side and 75 km² on the Hungarian side. The lake's drainage basin has an area of about 1120 km². From north to south, the lake is about 36 km long, and it is between 6 km and 12 km wide from east to west. On average, the lake's surface is 115.45 m above the Adriatic Sea and the lake is no more than 1.8 m deep.

In the past Rainfall and aridity caused significant floods (which in 1768 enlarged the lake to its maximum documented size of 515 km²) and significant decreases in the lake's level, respectively although frequently there seemed to be no apparent connection with the weather situation. The lake has disappeared completely on several occasions, e.g. in 1740-1742, 1811-1813, and most recently in 1866, when the private diary of a local, Gottlieb Wenzel, noted that he crossed the seabed on June 4 without soiling his boots. By the spring of 1876 the lake had returned to its usual size.

Most of the lake is surrounded by reeds which are harvested in winter as soon as the ice is solid enough. During the summer months, there are occasional reed fires, as dry reed is easily inflammable, and fires spread quickly because of the wind. Water quality is characterized by the amount of salt and mud emanating from sediments in the ground.

Before the regulation works of the 19th century, the lake extended in the southeast to the marshlands of the Hanság. It was thus closely connected to the Danube and the Raab rivers. Today, the water level is determined by a sluice on Hungarian territory near Mekszikópuszta. Bilateral issues are dealt with by the Austro-Hungarian water commission.

The national parks Neusiedler See-Seewinkel in Austria and Fertő-Hanság in Hungary were together accepted as World Heritage Site in 2001.

The region of Lake Neusiedl draws significant numbers of tourists. The lake is known as the "Sea of the Viennese," as it offers ample opportunities for sailing and windsurfing. There is also some commercial fishing.

The more important towns lying on the lake's shore are Illmitz, Podersdorf, Weiden, Neusiedl am See, Jois, Winden, Breitenbrunn, Purbach am Neusiedlersee, Donnerskirchen, Oggau, Rust and Mörbisch in Austria, and Fertőrákos, Fertőboz, Fertőd, Balf und Mekszikópuszta in Hungary, with the communities of Illmitz, Apetlon und Podersdorf forming the so-called Seewinkel (lake corner), which is located between the lake and the Hungarian border.

As of 2003, the water level is strongly decreasing, having fallen by 30 cm within just one year. This poses a problem for sailing and commercial shipping, as boats hit the ground more and more frequently.