Hungary

Hungary is a country in Central Europe. It has a wide range of natural features, including low mountains in the north-west, a vast plain in the east, lakes of various sizes, notably Lake Balaton, Central Europe’s biggest lake, and a number of small villages and large towns.

Hungary is administratively split into 19 counties, with the capital city of Budapest operating independently of any county authority. Hungary is one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions, with Budapest being recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Despite its small size, the nation has multiple World Heritage Sites, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, the second biggest thermal lake in the world (Lake Hévíz), the largest lake in Central Europe (Lake Balaton), and Europe’s largest natural grassland (Hortobágy). Hungary is a member of OECD, NATO, EU and the Schengen Convention.

Facts and Figures:

  • Official name: Hungary
  • Area: 93 022 km2
  • Population: 9 797 561 (2017)
  • Neighboring countries: Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia
  • Official language: Hungarian
  • State form: Republic
  • Capital and largest city: Budapest (population: 1 729 040)
  • Other large cities: Debrecen, Szeged, Miskolc, Pécs, Győr
  • Currency: Forint (HUF)
  • Time zone: CET (GMT +1)
  • Major rivers: River Danube (417 km), River Tisza (597 km)
  • Largest lakes: Lake Balaton, Lake Velence

Climate:

Hungary has four distinct seasons. Summers are pleasant while winters may be a bit cold. Hungary lies in the temperate zone, with a rather dry continental climate. The surrounding mountain ranges, the Alps and Carpathians, buffer the nation from harsh weather conditions. It is not always simple to locate the appropriate clothing for the weather, but the beauty of each season is well worth the effort. 

Hungarian Government:

Click here to view the website of the Hungarian government with fresh news and information about Hungary.

Traditional Dishes:

Hungary is famous for its dishes such as Goulash, Fish Soup, and Stuffed peppers. Hungarian cuisine combines influences from the East and West, as well as a rich culinary past, to create a broad range of dishes that represent the country’s history and variety. Dining in fine restaurants can be rather expensive, but you can find good food at traditional eateries for a decent price.

Noble Prize Laureates:

Hungarians are very much dedicated to science, research and education. There are about 15 million Hungarians around the world (in and outside Hungary), yet the number of Nobel Prize winners is considerable. Fifteen Hungarians have won the Nobel Prize since 1905 to 2023. The last Nobel prize in medicine was granted to Dr. Katalin Kariko for her discovery of mRNA based CORONA vaccine. Her discovery greatly contributed to the battle against Covid Pandemic.

Here is the list of the Hungarian Nobel Prize laureates:

  1. Philipp E. A. von Lenard (1862-1947) 1905 Physics

  2. Robert Bárány (1876-1936) 1914 Medicine

  3. Richard A. Zsigmondy (1865-1929) 1925 Chemistry

  4. Albert von Szent-Györgyi (1893-1986) 1937 Medicine

  5. George de Hevesy (1885-1966) 1943 Chemistry

  6. Georg von Békésy (1899-1972) 1961 Medicine

  7. Eugene P. Wigner (1902-1995) 1963 Physics

  8. Dennis Gabor (1900-1979) 1971 Physics

  9. John C. Polanyi (1930-) 1986 Chemistry

  10. George A. Olah (1927-) 1994 Chemistry

  11. John C. Harsanyi (1920-2000) 1994 Economics

  12. Imre Kertész (1929-) 2002 Literature

  13. Avram Hershko (1937-) 2004 Chemistry

  14. Ferenc Krausz (1962-) 2023 Physics

  15. Katalin Karikó (1955 -) 2023 Medicine

Professor George A. Olah, a great chemist, received Nobel Prize in 1994. He kindly accepted to be the Honorary President of Avicenna International College until he passed away.

Hungarian Academy of Sciences:

The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is Hungary’s highest scientific authority. Its primary tasks include the support and dissemination of research and development of scientific trends in Hungary. Hungarian Academy of Sciences represents Hungarian scientists worldwide. The academy has eleven sections including:

  1. Linguistics and Literary Scholarship
  2. Philosophy and Historical Sciences
  3. Mathematics
  4. Agricultural Sciences
  5. Medical Sciences
  6. Engineering Sciences
  7. Chemical Sciences
  8. Biological Sciences
  9. Economics and Law
  10. Earth Sciences
  11. Physical Sciences

Click here to visit the site of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Tourism in Hungary:

Hungary is one of the world’s fifteen most popular tourist destinations. Not only the beautiful capital, Budapest, but many other cities and locations in Hungary offer endless touristic attractions for the visitors. Hungary is easily accessible from any country by traditional and low-cost aircraft routes. Hungary is also well connected to all European countries via road or rail. Despite its modest size, Hungary boasts a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Thermal tourism is well developed across Hungary, with over 1000 natural hot springs utilized as spas and thermal baths. The most well-known thermal baths are Budapest’s Szechenyi baths. Miskolc-Tapolca bath near the Bükk Mountains is a special bath located within a cave. Many tourists from neighboring countries come to visit the cave bath for its relaxing and medical effects.

Click here to visit the website of the Hungarian Tourism Agency.

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