The Heviz Lake

The Heviz Lake in Hungary as a geological curiosity:
Unlike the other warm-water lakes in the world which were usually formed in clay soil or in a rocky bed, the Hévíz Lake is a lake with a peat-bed.

Spring Cave:
In the large cave, which was explored in 1975, there are several cold and warm-water springs mixing. From here, the mixed medicinal water flows on through a narrow passage, then gets to the thermal lake from the Spring Cave at a constant temperature of 38.5 °C. Due to its special status, the Spring Cave can be visited only with observing the strict regulations and the rules of cave diving and after obtaining the permission of the relevant nature conservation authority.

The fauna and flora of the lake:
The fauna and flora of the lake is unique due to the temperature of the water and its specific composition. The micro organisms of the water and the mud also contribute to the healing power of the lake. The sulphur-bacteria extract sulphur from the water, while other bacterium species play a significant role in decomposing peat and producing medicinal mud. The 'micromonospore heviziensis', which is a strong protein and cellulose decomposing bacterium, can be found nowhere else in the world. The diversity of the fauna and flora is shown by the fact that this is the place where some plant species can exclusively be found in Hungary and also in Europe.

Water-lilies
The most beautiful plant of the lake, the water-lily, has become the symbol of Heviz and has been incorporated into the coat of arms and also the flag of the town. The red Indian water-lily was brought to Hungary in 1898 by Sándor Lovassy, the teacher of the Academy of Economy in Keszthely. Thanks to the naturalization attempts carried out on the lake, the blue and white Egyptian water-lily can also be found in the water, as well as the lighter mutants of the red water-lily. The native white water-lily grows in the drainage canal. The blooming of the strictly protected plants starts as early as the beginning of summer and lasts up to the end of November. The leaves of the water-lily slow down the evaporation of the lake, while the creepers at the bottom of the lake protect the medicinal mud containing radium.

http://www.hungaryrooms.com/map/Heviz/