Hortobágy National Park

In 1973 the central region of the Hortobágy Puszta, an area of 690sq.km (266sq.mi), was declared a nature reserve, in an attempt both to safeguard the varied fauna and flora and to preserve the traditional farming and pastoral methods which have been employed on the Hungarian Plain since the 14th C.

Extensive areas of grassland interspersed with clumps of oak and maple trees, and large expanses of reeds dominate the landscape. Water-lilies, floating motherwort and other aquatic plants are nearly as common as camphor, camomile, mugwort and aster. In spring and autumn the Hortobágy provides a resting-place for vast numbers of migrant birds, including various species of heron, spoonbills, white geese, reed-warblers, waders, rare black storks, falcons and eagles. Also frequently seen are wild boar, otters and ground-squirrels. Descendants of many hundreds of years of animal rearing include the Hungarian Steppe cattle, the long-horned sheep, the nonius horse and the komondor and puli dogs so beloved by the shepherds. The occasional water-well and shepherd's dwelling complete the picture.