Őszeszéki-tó

The Őszeszéki-tó (also known as the Balástyai reservoir) is located near Balástya in Csongrád-Csanád County, southwest of the settlement and close to the M5 motorway. The ancient rock of Őszeszék serves as a habitat for numerous protected species. Its most significant natural value is the birdlife of the saline lake found in the area.

So far, 143 protected or highly protected species have been recorded from the region. For a long time it operated as a fishing lake nearly 1 km long, covering an area of 71 hectares.

About the lake

Starting from Balástya towards Forráskút on road 5422, after about three kilometres a dirt road branches off to the south, leading to the shore of Őszeszéki-tó. The lake itself has gray‑white water due to a large amount of floating mineral matter, the water has a high salt content, and its greatest depth is around two metres. Its bottom is covered with a thick, approximately 20 centimetre layer of soft silt. Since it has been used as a fishing water, several fish species (carp, silver bream, pike) have been introduced alongside the previously existing fish population (golden bream, red‑winged roach). These have almost completely disappeared, the golden bream has been displaced by the silver bream. The red‑winged roach population is also very scarce. The invasive Chinese mitten crab also lives in the lake in very large numbers. Because of the shallow water, the carp only grow to the size of a palm, although there may be exceptions. There are many piers crossing the reed beds and a boat, therefore its birdlife has diminished. However, it has not lost its role during bird migration. The protected medicinal leech is also found there. The lake is managed by a private individual.

The saline areas are very significant natural values of our Great Plain. Because of their unique characteristics they are considered an irreplaceable treasure. On the grass patches beside Őszeszéki-tó the population of the lizard's herb (Blackstonia acuminata) can be estimated at around 100 individuals, and in larger numbers occur the slender-leaved orchid (Anacamptis coriophora), the marsh orchid (Anacamptis palustris subsp. palustris) and the Buda imola (Centaurea sadleriana). So far 9 protected insects have been recorded from the area, among which the winged ground beetle (Carabus clathratus), the bank-sized amount of shining ground beetle (Carabus cancellatus), the sand‑dwelling ground beetle characteristic of specifically saline sand areas (Scarites terricola) and the large dog‑eared longhorn beetle occurring in the Danube‑Tisza interfluve (Oberea euphorbiae) must certainly be highlighted. In the reed habitats one can encounter in huge numbers the Danube crested newt (Triturus dobrogicus), the red‑breasted fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina), and the green tree frog (Hyla arborea). One of the area's impressive and highly protected predators is the pallid harrier (Circus pygargus). Among the waders that breed there are the black‑winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), the avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), the Mediterranean turnstone (Charadrius alexandrinus) and the red‑legged sandpiper (Tringa totanus). The tropical‑coloured bee‑eater (Merops apiaster) carves its nest into the banks, while the little owl (Athene noctua) and the roller (Coracias garrulus) find nesting opportunities on the surrounding trees.

Alongside numerous native fish species, the rich fish fauna includes a large number of common roach (Tinca tinca). The lake hosts a gene‑bank size population of the marsh frog (Rana esculenta) and the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis). Here nests the highly protected purple heron (Ardea purpurea), and the spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), the ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), the white‑tailed eagle (Pandion haliaetus), the common redshank (Tringa stagnatilis), the marsh sandpiper (Chlidonias hybridus) and the white‑winged sandpiper (Chlidonias niger) find their food. Bird life is most active at the lake during the spring and autumn migrations. The lake’s permanent resident is the otter (Lutra lutra).