Editing Economy of Hungary (section)

=== Natural resources ===
{{main|Geography of Hungary}}
[[File:Hungary topographic map.jpg|thumb|Topographic map of Hungary]]
Hungary's total land area is 93,030&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> along with 690&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of water surface area which altogether makes up 1% of Europe's area.

Nearly 75% of Hungary's landscape consists of flat plains. Additional 20% of the country's area consists of foothills whose altitude is 400 m at the most; higher hills and water surface makes up the remaining 5%.

The two flat plains that take up three-quarters of Hungary's area are the [[Great Hungarian Plain]] and the [[Little Hungarian Plain]]. Hungary's most significant natural resource is arable land. About 83% of the country's total territory is suitable for cultivation;<ref name="6601the_hungarian_agricu"/> of this portion, 75% (around 50% of the country's area) is covered by arable land, which is an outstanding ratio compared to other EU countries.<ref name="6601the_hungarian_agricu"/> Hungary lacks extensive domestic sources of energy and raw materials needed for further industrial development.

19% of the country is covered by forests. These are located mainly in the foothills such as the [[North Hungarian Mountains|North Hungarian]] and the [[Transdanubian Mountains]], and the [[Alpokalja]]. The composition of forests is various; mostly oak or beech, but the rest include fir, willow, acacia and plane.

[[File:Medicinal Bath Hévíz 01.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Medicinal bath in [[Hévíz]]]]
In European terms, Hungary's underground water reserve is one of the largest. Hence the country is rich in brooks and hot springs as well as medicinal springs and spas; as of 2003, there are 1250 springs that provide water warmer than 30&nbsp;°C.<ref name="6827a_h_v_zfelt_r_s___te">{{cite web |url=http://www.kvvm.hu/szakmai/karmentes/kiadvanyok/fav/tvkm/tvkm04.htm |title=A hévízfeltárás, -termelés, -hasznosítás alakulása (Figures of the Exploration, Production, and Utilization of Thermal Springs) |publisher=Hungarian Ministry of Environment and Water |language=hu |access-date=18 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703130756/http://www.kvvm.hu/szakmai/karmentes/kiadvanyok/fav/tvkm/tvkm04.htm |archive-date=3 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 90% of Hungary's drinking water is mostly retrieved from such sources.<ref name="6435magyarorsz_g_term_sz">{{cite web |url=http://www.eduline.hu/segedanyagtalalatok.aspx/letolt/2971 |title=Magyarország természetföldrajzi adottságai (Geographical Properties of Hungary) |language=hu |access-date=18 January 2010}}</ref>

The major rivers of Hungary are the [[Danube]] and the [[Tisza]]. The Danube also flows through parts of [[Germany]], [[Austria]], [[Slovakia]], [[Serbia]], and [[Romania]]. It is navigable within Hungary for 418&nbsp;km. The Tisza River is navigable for 444&nbsp;km in the country. Hungary has three major lakes. [[Lake Balaton]], the largest, is 78&nbsp;km long and from 3 to 14&nbsp;km wide, with an area of 592&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. Lake Balaton is Central Europe's largest lake and a prosperous tourist spot and recreation area. Its shallow waters offer summer bathing and during the winter its frozen surface provides facilities for winter sports. Smaller bodies of water include [[Lake Velence]] (26&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) in Fejér County and [[Lake Fertő]] (82&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> within Hungary).

The waters of the country are in danger, since more water is going out of the county than in. In 2022, a severe drought which has impacted all of Europe is endangering among others, Lake Velence, Lake Balaton, the Danube and Tisza rivers. The flow of the aforementioned rivers have been modified in the late 19th century, and while it prevented larger floods and helped water transport, it has its downsides, such as the inability to support large-scale watering of crops, worsening the drought of 2022. Large-scale reforms and rebuilding of the Alföld water system is needed, but no such plans are being announced by the government as of 2022.