Hungary 2
South of the Great Danube Bend, stretching in a south-westerly direction to the shores of Lake Balaton, lie the ‘Transdanubian Medium Mountains’ (Dunántúli-középhegység in Hungarian). Although cut off from the Northern Medium Mountains by the Danube (which forced its way through a fault-line in prehistoric times), this range of high hills has the same orogeny as its northern neighbours, although they are geologically distinct. The principle hill groups are detailed below.
Starting from the great Danube Bend, north of Budapest, in the far north-east of the range, lie the Pilis and Visegrád Hills, reaching their highest points on Pilis (756m), with a prominence of c.606 metres and, on the Visegrád, Prédikálószék (639m), which has a prominence of c.186 metres. Pilis is also the highest point in the Transdanubian Medium Mountains. Pilis is comprised of sandstone on a base of dolomite and limestone, whereas the Visegrád Hills consist of andesite and are geologically connected to the Börzsöny hills on the northern bank of the Danube.
To the south of this group are the Buda Hills, whose feet reach down to the city of Budapest itself. They are composed of limestone. The highest hill in this group is Nagy-Kopasz (559m), which has a prominence of c.274 metres.
To the west of the Pilis and Visegrád Hills lie the Gerecse Hills, which reach their highest point on Gerecse (634m). This has a prominence of c.408 metres. They are composed primarily of limestone and dolomite.
South-west of the Gerecse Hills lie the Vértes, a range of lower hills also comprised of limestone and dolomite. The highest point is Nagy-Csákány (487m). This has a prominence of c.262 metres.
South-west again of the Vértes lie the Northern and Southern Bakony, the most extensive groups of hills in the Transdanubian Medium Mountains. They are also composed of limestone and dolomite. The highest hill in the Northern Bakony is Kőris-hegy (706m), with a prominence of 492 metres, while Kab-hegy (599m), with a prominence of c.214 metres, is the highest point in the Southern Bakony.
To the south, lying along the northern shore of Lake Balaton, are the Balaton Uplands. These hills, of volcanic origin, were formed when the area was a shallow sea. The deep layer of sediment was fractured by a series of subterranean volcanic eruptions. When the sea dried up to form the Pannonian Basin the sediment was eventually eroded, leaving a series of isolated low hills, composed of basalt. The highest hill in this group is Badacsony (437m), which has a prominence of c.270 metres.
Furthest west, again bordering on the northern shore of Lake Balaton, are the Keszthely Hills, composed mainly of limestone and dolomite. The highest hill in this group is Köves-tető (444m). This has a prominence of c.274 metres.
There are two other groups of high hills that are not part of the Transdanubian Medium Mountains:
On the Austrian border, on the furthest eastern edge of the Alpine foothills, are the Alpokalja, composed mainly of limestone. The highest point is ĺrott-kő (884m). This has a prominence of c.399 metres.
South of Lake Balaton, near the city of Pécs, are the Mecsek, composed mainly of limestone and sandstone, but also some granite. The highest hill in this group is Zengő (682m). This has a prominence of 537 metres.
There are also ranges of lower hills along the southern border of Hungary, and in the far east of the country by the Ukrainian border.