Hársas-tó

Hársas-tó is one of the attractions of Szentgotthárd, located on the edge of the Máriaújfalu district. Official name: Máriaújfalui water reservoir.

Creation

The flood reservoir was created at the end of the 1980s by damming the Hársas-patak stream, which originates in the forest of Apátistvánfalva south of Szentgotthárd, to eliminate damage caused by regular floods; its common name comes from the stream. Already at the time of its construction it was intended to be developed as a bathing site and a fishing paradise, therefore the valley was artificially deepened on the northern side and the western shore.

Description

It is part of the Őrség National Park. Area 17.4 ha.

Since it is a flooded valley, the shape of the lake is elongated. There is a car park at both ends. The stone path along the lake shore can be used on foot; the surrounding walk is about 2100 meters long. About two thirds of the flooded area have not been arranged; the stumps of former trees were still standing in the water even in the 2010s.

Its greatest depth is in the north, in front of the valley dam, in the former bed about 7 m. In the former bed it is relatively deep, on the valley floor it generally becomes shallower towards the shores, but in the unarranged part some longitudinal shoals (these were once shore backs) decrease to half a meter. In the south, near the stream mouth and at the beach, in the arranged part the water is shallow.

Hársas-tó educational trail

The lake and its surroundings are presented by the national park on a 1.5 km long educational trail starting from the north side of the lake (easting 46°56’20.28615” north 16°18’49.98691”; GPS: 46.939266, 16.313983). At the eight exhibition sites we can get acquainted with the natural and architectural values and heritage of Őrség and Vendvidék.

Utilization

It not only has a beach, but also good fishing water. The trout, which originally lived in the stream, also migrated to the lake, but by the 21st century the pike had more or less displaced it. Since the lake became part of the national park, no carp are stocked, but a few older specimens still appear. It is maintained by the Sports Fishing Associations' Vas County Association. The more important fish (carp, roach species, pike, catfish, zander) are continuously stocked.