The Hévíz Lake

The Hévíz medicinal lake, unique throughout the world, awaits you amongst exquisite green surroundings. The forested parks and the town’s protected flora extending around the lake are a token of the peaceful relaxation and healing. The clean air, friendly atmosphere and hospitality of the residents of the spa town all enhance the curative effect.

The lake welcomes guests throughout the year, since the temperature of the water does not fall below 22 C° even in the winter, and in the summer reaches 38 C°. Thanks to the 410 liters flowing forth every second from the spring cavern, the lake’s waters fully regenerate in three and a half days, therefore remaining continuously clean. A pleasant stroll along the lakeshore with the sight of the water-lilies makes you forget about the workaday rat race. Contributing to this are the countless quality wellness services, which assist in the refreshment, pampering and improvement of the guests. The relaxing effect of a Hévíz vacation are felt for a long time, after returning home its positive impact may be enjoyed for months. 

The Hévíz Lake lies in a 60.5 ha nature conservation area, 4.44 ha of which is the surface of the lake. The marsh-land surrounding the lake is protected by law. The spring cave and the lake are also particularly protected natural phenomena.
The Hévíz Lake as a geological curiosity: Unlike the other warm-water lakes in the world which were usually formed in clay soil or in a rocky bed, the Hévíz Lake is a lake with a peat-bed.

Spring Cave:
In the large cave, which was explored in 1975, there are several cold and warm-water springs mixing. From here, the mixed medicinal water flows on through a narrow passage, then gets to the thermal lake from the Spring Cave at a constant temperature of 38.5 °C. Due to its special status, the Spring Cave can be visited only with observing the strict regulations and the rules of cave diving and after obtaining the permission of the relevant nature conservation authority.

The fauna and flora of the lake:
The fauna and flora of the lake is unique due to the temperature of the water and its specific composition. The micro organisms of the water and the mud also contribute to the healing power of the lake. The sulphur-bacteria extract sulphur from the water, while other bacterium species play a significant role in decomposing peat and producing medicinal mud. The 'micromonospore heviziensis', which is a strong protein and cellulose decomposing bacterium, can be found nowhere else in the world. The diversity of the fauna and flora is shown by the fact that this is the place where some plant species can exclusively be found in Hungary and also in Europe.

Water-lilies:
The most beautiful plant of the lake, the water-lily, has become the symbol of Hévíz and has been incorporated into the coat of arms and also the flag of the town. The red Indian water-lily was brought to Hungary in 1898 by Sándor Lovassy, the teacher of the Academy of Economy in Keszthely. Thanks to the naturalization attempts carried out on the lake, the blue and white Egyptian water-lily can also be found in the water, as well as the lighter mutants of the red water-lily. The native white water-lily grows in the drainage canal. The blooming of the strictly protected plants starts as early as the beginning of summer and lasts up to the end of November. The leaves of the water-lily slow down the evaporation of the lake, while the creepers at the bottom of the lake protect the medicinal mud containing radium.

Curative power
The basis of complex balneotherapy is thermal water, which is equally rich in dissolved and gas components thereby combining the favourable characters of carbonate, sulphur, calcium, magnesium, hydrogen carbonate and light radon emanation thermal water. The one of a kind mud covering the lake’s bottom as well as the radon therein and reduced sulphur represents the special values of therapeutic factors. The medicinal suggestions of the therapy covers a wide range of locomotor diseases: it has beneficial effects on rheumatic locomotor diseases, osteoporosis, degenerative spinal/joint diseases, Bechterew syndrome, inflammation diseases of the joint in their chronic phases, post treatment of injuries and locomotor operations as well as tender tissue rheumatism, secondary diseases of the joints, chronic, peripheral, nervous, mechanical-related complaints, pre- and post treatment of operations on the joints and discs as well as chronic and gynaecological conditions. Treatment does just have a momentary effect but prevents the pains from recurring for months. This is means that therapy received in the spring will bring a pain-free Christmas for those suffering from rheumatism.

Suggestions against the therapy include infectious diseases, tumours, heart failure, circulatory disorder, thrombosis and other blood production-related diseases, asthma, high blood pressure and pregnancy.
Without the advice of a doctor 30 minutes of bathing is suggested. In cases of chronic stomach and intestinal catarrh, the water may also be drunk for medicinal effects.

Further information:

http://www.heviz.hu/
http://www.spaheviz.hu/index.php
http://www.heviz-info.hu/terkep/

Further activities:
http://www.keszthely.hu/
http://www.balaton.hu/
http://www.balaton-tourism.hu/