Before the construction of the railway line to Lake Balaton and the national road 7, the reed beds of Lake Velence stretched southwest to the village of Dinnyés. The wetland, reedbed area on both sides of the Dinnyés-Kajtor canal (which drains the excess water from Lake Velencei) has been protected since 1966. It provides a safe, undisturbed habitat for protected birds displaced by the increased tourist pressure on Lake Velencei.
Its protection is maintained by the current Decree No. 46/2007 (X. 18.) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management on maintaining the protection of the Dinnyési Forest Nature Reserve.
- Year of designation: 1966
- Extent of the protected area: 529 hectares.
- Protected area registered in the 'List of internationally important wild waters' (Ramsar site).
Brief description of the protected natural values
The Fertő is a favourite feeding and breeding ground for herons. At the end of October and beginning of November, 20,000 or more geese arrive in the dusk to spend the night in the safe waters of the Fertő.
During the spring migration, and especially during the autumn migration, huge numbers of ducks congregate on the water. The best known breeding species of the Dinnyés-Fertő are the great egret and the spoonbill. A more secretive species of heron: the deep calls of the great crested newt can often be heard from the reeds in spring.
The only species of geese to nest in Hungary, the summer goose breeds regularly. Coastal areas are covered with the typical scrub vegetation of some parts of the Great Plain. In the wetter areas there are many primrose species, and salt-tolerant species grow in the whitish parts. Medical fescue is abundant.
The Dinnyési Wood is an ideal place for waterfowl watching. A guided bird-watching tower is an excellent way to see the area, which is particularly spectacular during bird migration.