Photos

This picture was taken on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Weiden am See, a small village located on the northern shore of Lake Neusiedl.

Lake Neusiedl (German: Neusiedler See) is a lake in the Austrian/Hungarian border region. It is the largest steppe lake in Europe and covers 315 square kilometers/122 square miles (the larger part is on the Austrian side). It is a very shallow lake with a maximum depth of only about 1.8 meters/6 feet. In 2001 the lake was awarded the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Most of the lake is surrounded by reeds which also serve as habitat for wildlife. Lake Neusiedl is an important resting place for migratory birds. Occasional reed fires during the summer tend to spread rather quickly as a result of the continuously blowing winds.

Lake Neusiedl is a very popular recreational area. The beaches along the shore become very crowded in the summer months. Because of the ample opportunities the lake offers (windsurfing, sailing, swimming, fishing, etc.) it is commonly referred to as "Sea of the Viennese".