Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park

The Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park lies in Burgenland on the eastern edge of the Alps and the western edge of the Little Hungarian Plain. It covers 97 square kilometres of wetlands, meadows, sand steppes and salt areas around Lake Neusiedl. The lake sits at the lowest point of the Little Hungarian Plain, about 115 metres above sea level. To the west the Leitha Mountains form a natural boundary, while the Parndorf Plain and the former mire of Hanság mark the north and east. The park’s varied landscapes attract species from alpine, pannonian, asian, mediterranean and northern European regions. The park holds Austria’s first IUCN category II label, awarded in 1994. In 2001 its Austrian section became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike other Austrian national parks, it is owned by around 1,200 local farmers who leave their plots unused in exchange for yearly compensation. The visitor centre in Illmitz introduces the mosaic of environments and the species that live here. Over 350 bird species have been recorded, including 178 breeding species at the western edge of their range. Rare visitors have included Pacific golden plover, semipalmated sandpiper and blue-cheeked bee-eater. Paths wind through wetlands, herding meadows and salt areas where rare plants such as Suaeda pannonica and Lepidium cartilagineum grow. Iris beds of blue and Siberian iris add colour in season. Birdwatchers come to spot great bustard, pygmy cormorant, ferruginous duck, little crake, European bee-eater and Syrian woodpecker. The changing light over the lake and the surrounding plains creates shifting views throughout the day.