The country is divided by Europe's second longest river, the Danube which runs from Esztergom in the north, south through Budapest to the border at Mohacs. Hungary is rich in thermal waters and 2/3 of the country could exploit this. It is estimated there is 2500 cubic kilometers of thermal water below Hungary which could produce a million cubic meters of thermal water each day. About half that amount is being exploited for swimming pool bathers and wellness centers like Heviz
Half the country is taken up by the Great Plain. Also know as the Puszta this flat landscape ranges from treeless marshy areas with small lakes, that are the remnants of the Capathian lake, to fertile plains that are suitable wheat and corn. On the more open Puszta you find rare cattle breeds like the Grey Cattle as well as water buffalos. This is the land of the Csikos, hungarian cowboys. decendants of the nomadic tribes that conquered Hungary a thousand years ago.
The hilly areas of the country are suitable for wine production and produce wine of varying quality. Socialism left the quality of Hungarian wine in a very poor state. Today though a new breed of wine makers and marketeers are again producing top quality wines. Hungary's most famous growing region is Tokaj. Internationally famous it is thought by many connoisseurs to be the Queen of wines. Tokaj is situated in the North East of the country and just to its south is the Eger Region. Famous for its rather poor quality "Bulls Blood wine" in the past today Egerr's modern wine makers produce fine wines from a variety of grapes. To the South of Hungary is the wine cellar village of Hajos. Although modern grape varieties are used here today, wine is still made from old varieties of grape like the Kardarka grape that is only grown in Hungary. Kardarka is a red grape variety that was introduced by the Turks during their 150 year occupation of Hungary. In the south near the Croatian border next to Pecs is Villany. This wine region has had a huge financial injection and produces and market some, if not the beat wines of Hungary. On average the best Hungarian wines can compete with any wines of the world and command high prices. |
