BALATON, the largest lake of central and western Europe, situated in Western Hungary. About som. in length it lies in a narrow north-east to south-west tectonic rift whose origin is asso ciated with the Alpine uplift. The depth averages 6f t. and attains a maximum of about 38f t. near the Tihany peninsula. The north ern shore is flanked by the vine-covered slopes of the Bakony mountains whose thermal springs have led to the growth of sev eral popular spas, while the southern shore is flat and dotted with watering places. Apart from these resorts, settlements are small and devoted to fishing the richly stocked lake and to the prepara tion of wines, though the growing popularity of the lake as a sum mer bathing resort for the population of Budapest is overshadow ing these original activities.
See "Resultate der wissenschaftlichen Erforschung des Balatonsees," Herausg. v. d. Ungar. Geographischen Gesellschaft (Budapest, 1891 1916).