Hévíz

Hévíz

Lake Hévíz
Hévíz

Location of Hévíz

Coordinates: 46°47′32″N 17°11′06″E / 46.79234°N 17.18497°ECoordinates: 46°47′32″N 17°11′06″E / 46.79234°N 17.18497°E
Country  Hungary
County Zala
Area
 • Total 8.31 km2 (3.21 sq mi)
Population (2012)
 • Total 4,375
 • Density 526.47/km2 (1,363.6/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 8380
Area code(s) 83

Hévíz is a spa town in Zala County, Hungary, about 8 kilometres (5 miles) from Keszthely.

The town is located near Hévíz lake, the world’s second-largest thermal lake, but biologically the biggest active natural lake. Its temperature is affected by the combination of hot and cold spring waters, coming from 38 m deep underground. The water breaks out from a spring cave, with appox. 410 liters per second, with a temperature of 40 °C. The city provides facilities for visitors seeking to use the medicinal waters of the lake, including hotels, parks, sports and entertainment. The effects of the lake was known by the ancestors as well, people lived here enve at the end of the Stone Age. The foundations of bath culture was laid by the Romans in the 2nd century. The city and the bath began developing significant in the 18th century, related to the Festetics Family. They started scientifically researches about using the water medically, and for healing.

The biological stability of the lake is shown by the temperature of the water, which has not changed for years and even on the coldest winter days doesn’t drop below 24 degrees Celsius. That makes bathing possible in the lake the whole year round. In the summer the water temperature can reach 37 degrees Celsius.

See also

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