Vadása-tó

Vadása-tó is the name of an artificial lake complex actually consisting of two lakes in the southern part of Vas county, in the Őrség region. It is a popular resort and fishing spot.

Description

The two lakes administratively belong to Hegyhátszentjakab, geographically they lie in the centre of the triangle formed by Hegyhátszentjakab, Őrimagyarósd and Szőce. The lakes and the surrounding resort‑type public area can be reached either from the centre of Hegyhátszentjakab by turning off the road 7447 that runs between Nádasd and Felsőjánosfa toward the northeast, or by turning south from the road between Őrimagyarósd and Szőce.

The lakes were created by enlarging the Vadása stream, the dams are located on their southern side. Their water is fed by a total of 12 springs. The southern, larger lake covers 3 hectares, the northern one 1 hectare. The average depth is 1.8 metres (generally deeper towards the eastern side), the bottom is gravelly and silty.

For tourism, the southern lake is used; a paid beach operates on its eastern shore in summer, and along the road passing west of it there are holiday homes and hospitality establishments. The yellow tourist sign also runs along its eastern side. The northern lake, the fore‑reservoir, is not as developed; it is completely surrounded by forest, and reeds emerge from its water.

Flora and Fauna

The most common fish in the lake water are carp, amur, roach species, bleak, bream and crucian carp. The bird life is also rich, with species such as the reed warbler, great spotted woodpecker, grey heron, little egret, water rail and the snipe present.

The lakes are surrounded by forest. Characteristic plants in the lake area are peat fern and marsh marigold.

History

The first lake was enlarged in 1968 by the local residents at the initiative of the local organizer Lajos Solymár[source?] on the Vadása stream, from which it also took its name. According to a folk‑etymology‑like explanation, the stream’s name originates from the many foxes living in the area that dug holes in the stream bed, giving it the name vad‑ásta, from which the present name derives. The northern lake was created later.

In June 2018 a flood‑like rain damaged the lake dam, so the site was not visitable for about a year. During the restoration works it was a particular challenge not to damage the habitat of protected peat ferns living along the shores. Finally in the summer of 2019 the restored lake was handed over again.

The lake in literature

It is mentioned tangentially in the first novel of humorist Tibor Bödőcs, in the volume Meg se kínáltak which highlights many rural locations of Zala (in chapter 43).