Lake Fertő lies in both Austria and Hungary and appears on the World Heritage List as a result of a joint application by both countries. The lake is part of the Fertő-Hanság National Park which UNESCO declared a biosphere reservation in 1979 and which is internationally recognized as one of Europe's most significant water habitats. There are numerous rare plant species only to be found here and more than 200 kinds of nesting birds. In the interest of preserving these, some parts of the National Park can only be visited with permits and with certified guides. Lake Fertő is very popular in the summertime. You can go swimming, windsurfing, motor boating and sailing. There is a paved cycle path around the lake. Fertő is the westernmost example of the Eurasian steppe lakes and is Europe's largest alkaline lake. The water is shallow, its constantly changing depth hardly reaches one metre. It has completely dried out many times, the last occasion being between 1867 and 1871. Its main sources are ground and rain water, though two streams also flow into it. It has no natural outlet but is drained by the Hanság Main Canal. Various climatic conditions prevail in the relatively small area of the Fertő-Neusiedler region; the meeting of a continental, a sub-Mediterranean and an Alpine climate produces a variety of plant and animal life. The shore is home to vegetation which tolerates salty conditions and is characteristic of continental salt lakes and the seaside. Dense reeds and more than 80 salt marsh patches provide a paradise for birds. The area of the lake has been a meeting point for a variety of cultures for 8000 years. Archeological digs have uncovered human artefacts from the sixth century BC. Celts and Romans lived here and the remains of a bath from the period of Marcus Aurelius (161-180) have been found. The Romans quarried limestone here and the quarry offers an unusual setting for theatre and opera performances in Fertőrákos. In addition to the natural wonders, the folk architecture of the region is also worth seeing. There are towns near Lake Fertő which were founded in medieval times - Balf, Hidegség, Fertőboz, Hegykő. The most important palaces in the area date from the 18th century. Joseph Haydn spent more than a decade as court musician in the magnificent Esterházy Palace in Fertőd. In Nagycenk, you can visit the former palace of the Széchenyi family and here you can see an exhibition of the life works of the "greatest Hungarian," István Széchenyi. From the palace there is a light railway that leads to Fertőboz. The classical Gloriette offers an unparalleled view of the lake. Besides the farming and animal husbandry, there is a long tradition of grape growing and wine production in this region. The vineyards which climb the hillsides produce robust red wines and the famous "Kékfrankos" wine is cultivated and bottled here. The sayings and stories of the local people, an inseparable part of their cultural heritage, have always underlined the constantly changing nature of the region. The Lake Fertő - Neusiedler See area is unique, the product of natural and geographic processes, to which the cultures of the various peoples who succeeded each other made significant contributions. Three-quarters of the lake lies in Austria, but the region forms a natural unity irrespective of the political boundaries.