Are you going on holiday to Hungary? Would you like to learn a little about the environment in Hungary? Our environmental guide to Hungary gives you the facts & information you’ll want to know.
Natural environment in Hungary
Hungary is a country with a beautiful natural environment incorporating a variety of different natural terrains and landscapes, each of which has its own special environmental considerations and unique attractions. In total, Hungary is believed to be home to more than 2000 different types of plant, which gives you an idea of the diverse natural environment on offer in Hungary. Interestingly, many of these plant species that are indigenous to Hungary are not ordinarily expected to grow in the type of climate that Hungary has.
Forest Environment in Hungary
A great swathe of low lying land forms the great plain of Hungary which takes up a substantial proportion of Hungary’s land mass. There are, however, several forests in Hungary located in the west and south of the country. These forest environments in Hungary are dominated by three main species of tree; Beech, Birch and Oak. Oddly, there are comparatively few Fir trees in Hungary. These areas are the best places to go hiking in Hungary.
Wildlife environment in Hungary
Hungary has a varied wildlife which is particularly the case with birds, many of which use this central European country as a stop off point on their yearly migrations. There are believed to be close to 400 different bird species that form part of the rich wildlife environment in Hungary. These include such birds are the Red Footed Falcon, Saker Falcon, Imperial Eagle and the White –Tailed Eagle. It is for this reason that bird watching in Hungary is a popular pastime.
Environment & pollution in Hungary
Hungary is still suffering to some extent from the legacy of its communist era, when preservation of the environment played second fiddle to economic progress and industry. There was a great reliance on coal burning for both factories and domestic use which had high carbon emissions, although over the past two decades efforts have been made to reduce this reliance on coal. In addition, there were several cases of toxic military waste being dumped in Hungary from the Soviet era. During the 1990’s several towns were severely affected by pollution which initiated government sponsored clean ups.
Environment & nuclear energy in Hungary
The main nuclear energy plant in Hungary is located in the city of Paks and is believed to provide up to 35% of the energy needs of Hungary. Although there are no environmental disasters on record in Hungary, there are always risks associated with such plants in any country.
