Kiskunság National Park (Hungarian: Kiskunsági Nemzeti Park) is a national park located in the Danube–Tisza Interfluve, mainly in Bács-Kiskun county, Hungary. It was established in 1975 and recognized as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The park spans an area of 530 square kilometers and covers the Little Cumania (Kiskunság) region of the Great Hungarian Plain.
Features
This area is not one single place, but is made up of seven separate regions spread out across the region.
One of these regions is called Kiskunság's Puszta, where yearly events take place that celebrate traditional pastoral life and cattle breeding practices.
Another region is Lake Kolon, located near the town of Izsák. This area is known for its marsh tortoises, herons, large areas of undisturbed reeds, and nine types of orchids that grow nearby. A unique natural feature is the sand dunes near Fülöpháza. It is believed that these dunes shift when the wind is strong enough.
Geography
The alkali lakes of the Little Cumania are located near Fülöpszállás and Szabadszállás. These lakes have special value because of their unique plants and animals. Avocets, geese, and black-winged stilts live in the area. The lakes give a temporary home to tens of thousands of migratory birds. This area, known as a paradise for birdwatchers, is also a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Lake Szelid near Kalocsa, Lake Vadkert near Soltvadkert, Lake Fehér, and Lake Sós near Kiskunhalas are good places for swimming and camping.
There are many tourist trails, study paths, and viewpoints inside the national park. These help create a special experience in the Kiskunság. The main visitor center of the Kiskunság National Park, called the "House of Nature," is located in Kecskemét.
Gallery
- Black-winged stilt
- European roller
- Coronella austriaca (smooth snake)
- Menyanthes
- Open-air museum in Ópusztaszer
- White-tailed eagle
- Great bustard