Tata

Tata

Tata is located in the northern part of Transdanubia, at the junction of the Kisalföld and the Transdanubian mountains, at the northwestern gate of the Tatai ditch, which separates the Gerecse and Vértes mountain ranges, at the flow of the Által river. Its highest point is the Calvary Hill, 166 meters high, and its lowest point is the Fényes Baths, 120 meters above sea level. This unique geographical position has had a profound impact on the town's development, with the surrounding mountains providing a natural shield against harsh weather conditions and creating a microclimate that fosters a rich biodiversity. The town's history dates back to the Middle Ages, with archaeological findings indicating human settlements in the area as early as the 11th century. Tata became the 'City of Living Waters' and the Hungarian Capital of Biodiversity in 2010, recognizing the city's connection to natural values. In the Tatai ditch flows not only the Által river from Tatabánya, which feeds the Lake Öreg and then leads its water to the Danube, but also smaller streams. The water of the streams flowing north-north-westwards in the ditch is drained into many ponds on the border of Tata and below it Naszály. These are collectively known as the Tatai Lakes. The oldest of them is the Lake Öreg. The lakes are important resting places for migratory birds during spring and autumn migration. On 17 March 1989, under the Ramsar Convention on the Protection of Wetlands, these lakes were merged into the Ramsar area of the Tatai Lakes, which are covered by the Convention and protected under it.