Hungary drained its waters for generations. Now drought is exposing the cost

Drought is exposing the long-term costs of how Hungary has managed water, with Lake Velence in particular dropping to record lows. In Gárdony, a fisherman said even small-boat navigation is becoming difficult as the lake level fell to about 8 inches, far below the roughly 5 feet considered optimal for August. Beaches have been closed, and Hungary’s water crisis is linked to prolonged droughts and climate-driven heat across Europe. Authorities and experts point to decades of draining wetlands and sending water away from the landscape, including a network of more than 25,000 miles of drainage canals. A 2023 Nature study estimated historical wetland loss of more than 80%.