Lake Hévíz

Lake Hévíz
Lake Hévíz
Medicinal Bath of Hévíz
LocationHévíz
Coordinates46°47′14″N 17°11′35″E / 46.78722°N 17.19306°E / 46.78722; 17.19306
Basin countriesHungary
Surface area47,500 m2 (511,000 sq ft)
Residence time72 hours

Lake Hévíz is located in Hévíz, Hungary, near the western end of Lake Balaton, 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Keszthely.

It is the largest swimmable thermal lake in the world (47,500 square metres (511,286 sq ft) in area), and is the second largest thermal lake in general, second to only the Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand, which is too hot for swimming. The flow of water is very strong and the water in the lake is completely replenished every 72 hours. Its minimum depth is 2 meters, reaching a maximum depth of 38 meters, exactly at the point where the hot thermal water comes out to the surface.