KISKUN LTER - Hungary

The ground water level is higher than the level of the surrounding Danube and Tisza river, most probably because of the communicating vessels effect of the Carpathian Mountains. The ground water is slightly and varyingly alkaline. There are undulating surfaces and sand dune systems, where the depressions might be close to ground water. There are extended areas under ground water effect, as well as a shallow freshwater lake, and plenty of temporarily drying alkaline lakes with surrounding alkaline wetlands. In the 1970s, a regional draining system had been installed, and then the groundwater table level dropped one to eight meters. Many of the former wetlands dried out, and most of the alkaline lakes disappeared in the Kiskunság Sand Ridge, i.e. in the muddle part of the area, while other lakes and wetlands remained at the margins of the ridge.