Lake Balaton is a freshwater lake in the Transdanubian region of
Hungary. It is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of the
region's foremost tourist destinations. The Zala River provides the
largest inflow of water to the lake, and the canalised Sió is the only
outflow.
The mountainous region of the northern shore is known both for its
historic character and as a major wine region, while the flat southern
shore is known for its resort towns. Balatonfüred and Hévíz developed
early as resorts for the wealthy, but it was not until the late 19th
century when landowners, ruined by Phylloxera attacking their grape
vines, began building summer homes to rent out to the burgeoning middle
classes.