Pusztaszeri Tájvédelmi Körzet

The area of the Pusztaszer Landscape Protection District is 22 226 hectares, of which 1 013 hectares are intensively protected. The Landscape Protection District falls under the administration of the Kiskunság National Park Directorate.

One of the most well‑known parts of the Landscape Protection District is the White Lake of Szeged. The natural values of the landscape and its unparalleled bird life were highlighted by Peter Beretzk, a physician from Szeged. As a result of his research, in 1939 the 350‑hectare saline marsh of the White Lake of Szeged was declared protected. At that time the fish‑pond system that still exists today was begun.

The other large lake of the area, the Csaj Lake, is also an important bird habitat. The lake has been a fish farm since 1964. Its third lake is the Fertő, also called the Sándorfalvi Lake.

Location

The Landscape Protection District is located in the triangle formed by Csanytelek, Kistelek and the White Lake near Szeged, beside the Tisza, in the Danube‑Tisza Plain, Csongrád‑Csanád County. Baks lies within the area, while Mindszent, Sándorfalva and Ópusztaszer are on its border. It is adjacent to the Mártély Landscape Protection District.

It has two main parts, the northern and the southern, which are connected by a narrow riverside strip. The district also includes the Tisza and one of its backwaters, the Atkai backwater, which encloses Atka Island.

The White Lake of Szeged

The White Lake of Szeged is one of Hungary’s oldest protected areas. Its first documented mention dates from 1075. Even at the beginning of the 19th century its area was regularly flooded by the Tisza. The lake once belonged to the characteristic group of lowland saline lakes. These shallow, saline‑water lakes are characterized by water that is cloudy from floating colloidal lime salts and a grey‑white carbonate‑lime mud accumulating on the bottom. The conversion of the former saline lake into a fish‑pond system began in the 1930s. At the same time Dr. Peter Beretzk, a physician from Szeged, started his research here. On his recommendation, in 1936 a part of the White Lake of Szeged received local protection, and in 1939 it was elevated to a nationally significant protected area. The area is an important stopover and feeding site for European bird migration. During migration periods flocks of ravens, common loons and various waders can be seen on the White Lake. Near the burial mound of Szatymaz stands the Tisza Valley exhibition house, where an exhibition presents the natural characteristics of the Pusztaszer Landscape Protection District. From there the Seagull Trail starts, leading through the freely accessible areas of the White Lake. One stop on the trail is the Peter Beretzk lookout, from which, with a telescope, one can observe the bustling life of the seagull colony on Korom Island in the middle of the XI lake unit.

The birdlife of White Lake

black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) (visible: all year, breeding: third half of April to end of June)

lesser black-backed gull (Larus melanocephalus) (visible: March‑August, breeding: May‑June)

grey heron (Ardea cinerea) (visible: all year, breeding: mid‑March to last third of July)

purple heron (Ardea purpurea) (visible: early April to late September, breeding: third third of April to last third of July)

great egret (Egrettea egretta) (visible: all year, breeding: mid‑March to early July)

little egret (Egretta garzetta) (visible: April‑October, breeding: early May to last third of July)

spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) (visible: March‑October, breeding: first third of April to last third of July)

marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) (visible: all year, breeding: April to end of July)

common tern (Sterna hirundo) (visible: April‑September, breeding: mid‑May to mid‑July)

mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) (visible: all year, breeding: early March to end of July)

ferruginous duck (Aythya ferina) (visible: all year, breeding: end of April to mid‑June)

crane (Grus grus) (visible: March, September‑November)

Flora and fauna

Both saline and slightly saline soil types can be found in the area, therefore its vegetation is rich and mosaic. In the salty areas the characteristic is a rush‑dominated rocky grassland with patches of brush‑ and honey‑meadow, while the lakeshore is bordered by salty reed. The greatest value of the area is the exceptionally rich birdlife: white stork, black‑winged kite, great snipe, great bustard, red‑legged partridge, black‑headed gull breed around the lake, blue‑winged teal lives in the forest patches, partridges nest on the plains, and the rare great bustard nests, while the little grebe is a common sight. In the periodically water‑covered areas the salty honey‑meadow dominates, but salty rush is not rare either. In the dry salt marshes the sheep’s‑parsnip, spiny restharrow, Hungarian saltwort and medicinal chamomile are also common. On the smaller loess‑covered hills that edge the plain, the sow‑thistle brings its yellow flower in autumn. This plant is very rare in the middle of the Danube‑Tisza region and reaches the northernmost limit of its distribution in our country.

The other two especially valuable areas of the nature reserve are the two oxbow lakes and their surroundings along the Tisza: the Sas-ér and the Labodár. The oxbow lake is surrounded by wet, clumpy swamp meadows, drifting willow groves, summer- and willow groves, forming an impressively beautiful landscape. In the willow forests, herons nest densely: great egret, red heron, grey heron, little bittern, night heron breeds on the site, and the meadow heron also returns. The environment of the Labodár oxbow lake, located at the border of the Csanytelek, is similar: the floating water‑lily on the oxbow lake coexists with valuable species, surrounded by willow forests and swamp meadows.

During a hike we can also learn about the nature reserve’s natural values, flora and fauna and cultural aspects: from the autumn of 2014 renewed nature trail signs await visitors. Some of the signs are equipped with interactive elements and games, and they can be found near the main tourist destinations as well as in the surrounding settlements: at the Fehér-tavi viewpoint, at the Csaj-tó, in Ópusztaszér and at several locations on the Tisza‑gát, a total of 29 signs have been installed.