Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park

Neusidedler see Seewinkel National Park is located on the eastern side of Austria. The park is situated along the border between Hungary and Austria and just north of the midway point of the country.  The park covers an area of 37.45 square miles (97 sq km) which makes it the third smallest park in Austria.

Lake Neusiedl serves as the foundation of the national park which is also protected by the neighboring Ferto-Hansag National Park in Hungary.  The park sits between the Alps to the west and the Little Hungarian Plains which extend to the east.

The diverse ecosystem includes herding meadows, wild meadows, steppes, salt sites, and wetlands.  This ecosystem ends up being the right habitat resulting in an intertwining of Asian, Mediterranean, northern European, and other species making the area unique for wildlife encounters.

The combined herding and wild meadows mean there is a similar intersection between domestic and wild animals.  Horses, donkeys, Hungarian longhorns, and water buffalos may be seen grazing across these fields with one another.  Some of the outside-the-box creatures that you may or may not hope to see are the Russian tarantula and the fire-bellied toad.

The migrating and nesting birds are a significant part of the biodiversity in the national park.  Some of the popular species found amongst the wetlands and meadows include sea eagles, great bustards, various herons, differing bee-eaters, and spoonbills.

Photos

Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park Photo Gallery

Highlights

The intersection of wildlife that crosses continents as well as intertwining domestic and wildlife species is one of the unique features of the park and a highlight for some people.  The wetlands, the lake, and soda pools create a diverse experience with the waterways and surrounding landscapes.

Lake Neusiedl

Lake Neusiedl is at the heart of the national park.  The lake covers an area of 122 square miles (315 sq km) which makes it the largest endorheic lake in Central Europe.  The majority of the lake is located in Austria with only 29 square miles (75 sq km) of it stretching over the border into Hungary.

The lake stretches north to south over a distance of 22 miles (36 km) while reaching a maximum width of 7.5 miles (12 km).  The lake is shallow reaching a maximum depth of only 6 feet (1.83 m).  The lake and wetlands are recognized by both UNESCO and the Ramsar Convention as Wetlands of International Importance.

There are towns and villages around the lake some dating back to the Neolithic period creating an encounter with Austrian culture and heritage.

Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park Trails

Neusiedler see Seewinkel is not known for hiking like some of the other Austrian national parks, but it is there.  There is an extensive running park located at the lake with 49 recognized trails covering a distance of 236.12 miles (380 km).  Most of the focus is on the lake and surrounding wetlands. 

Park Protection

Neusiedler see Seewinkel National Park was created to protect a unique ecosystem that serves as the habitat for a diverse collection of wildlife.  In particular, the lake and wetlands serve as a habitat for thousands of migrating and nesting bird species.

The park protects grazing lands for both domestic species and wildlife species that intertwine together eating from the meadow vegetation.