General informations about Hungary

The country

Hungary is located in the middle of Europe, in the Carpathian Basin surrounded by the Carpathians, the Alps and the Dinara Mountains. The territory of the country is 93,030 square kilometres, covering about 1 % of Europe.

The population of Hungary is around 10 million, 20% of the population lives in the capitol Budapest. The Hungarian capitol is one of Europe's fastest developing and most attractive capitols, which attracts millions of tourists every year from all around the world.

Almost three quarters of the country's territory is a low plain, one fifth is hilly with the maximum altitude of 400 metres, and approximately 5% of the country is mountainous.

The highest peak in the country is the Peak of Kékes in the Mátra Hills, rising up to 1015 metres. The Great Hungarian Plain (Alföld) and the Small Plain (Kisalföld) are flat, the Zala and Somogy hills, the Tolna ridge in Transdanubia are hilly areas, while the mountains are represented by the Sopron and the Koszeg mountains, the Mecsek, the Transdanubian and the Northern mountain ranges.

Climate

Hungary is situated in the temperate zone, on the borderline of, and affected by, three large climatic zones: oceanic, continental and mediterranean. It is prone to rhapsodic weather changes and, due to the relative isolation of the Carpathian Basin, the climate has a tendency for droughts, especially on the Great Plain.

The annual average temperature is 9.7 °C in the whole of the country and 11.2 °C in Budapest. The mean temperature in the hottest month, July, is 20.0 °C, in the coldest month, January, 2.1 °C. On a hot summer day temperatures may reach 33-38 °C, while in cold winters temperature may drop to minus 25.0. - 30.0 °C. The number of hours of sunshine varies between 1700-2200 hours per year.

Regions of Hungary

Hungary's largest region is the Southern Great Plain. Four regions have an average size and the smallest one is Central Hungary. The main explanation of that is the dominant role played by Budapest the capitol of Hungary (and the natural centre of Central Hungary).

In 2002 the GDP per head reached 88% of the EU-15-average in the central region. The second most developed is Western Transdanubia with its 55% value, but in the other five regions the level of development is less then half of the EU-15 average, and in Northern Hungary and the Northern Great Pain even less than 40% of it. In line with the regional development, investment per head and foreign direct investment (FDI) per head are significantly higher in Central-Hungary. The two north-western regions, Western and Central Transdanubia are in a relatively good position in this respect, meanwhile the four other regions lag significantly behind.

Thermal water

Hungary is rich in thermal water: its thermal water stock is significant even on a global level, and it is unique in Europe. At the moment, Hungary has more than 1,000 wells producing thermal water over 30 °C.
Most of the mineral and thermal water contains dissolved minerals too, and therefore these water-types have medicinal effect, i.e. they are suitable for bathing and drinking cures.

The country has approximately 150 thermal spas, including 36 special spas, with water containing radioactive components, sulphur and acids, salt-bromide-carbonate and iodine. The Tapolca bath in Northeast Hungary is the only cave bath in Europe. Hévíz near the Lake Balaton is the best known thermal lake in Europe (with 33 °C water temperature). Internationally known spas are: Budapest, Hévíz, Balatonfüred, Harkány, Bük, Sárvár and Hajdúszoboszló.

Tourism

The territory of the country is smaller than 100,000 square kilometres, the Hungarian language is spoken only by Hungarians, Hungarian folk songs are not similar to those of any other nation - yet the Hungarians have been living in the middle of Europe for over 1100 years. Despite the numerous disastrous turns of its history, Hungary is still rich in values attracting many visitors from all over the world.

For its wonderful scenic values, Budapest, the capitol city of Hungary - the gem of the Danube - is included in the World Heritage list of UNESCO. Hungary has the largest surface thermal water supply - after Iceland - and the hundreds of thermal springs enable thousands of people to cure a variety of conditions. Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe, is a paradise for families with small children, fans of sailing, fishing and those who simply like to spend their vacation near a lake.