The 'St. Ana Lake - Mohos Peat Bog' Ecotourism Center was officially inaugurated on Friday, a project designed to present the area's exceptional natural values in a modern way and to support scientific education, environmental responsibility and sustainable tourism.

Photo credit: Tánczos Barna / Facebook

The project, carried out by the 'Pro Szent Anna' Association, is the first major investment in the area in decades, funded mainly by the Government of Hungary.

Photo credit: Tánczos Barna / Facebook

The association's director, Dósa Elek-Levente, told AGERPRES that the initiative is 'unprecedented in the history of Lake St. Ana', noting that the last significant works in the area date back to the 1960s - 70s, when the old cabin and access road were built. 'In essence, we have recovered almost 50 years of lost time,' he said.

The main element of the project is the new Knowledge Center, created by renovating the 1963 cabin and adding a new wing with information spaces, a projection room, interactive exhibits and a 3D model of the volcano. Modern restrooms and a grey-water recycling system were also installed. Visitors now have access to a new dining hall and terrace suitable for rest or small events.

Photo credit: Tánczos Barna / Facebook

The project also includes a network of more than 10 kilometers of trails linking Lake St. Ana to the Mohos peat bog, along with a rebuilt system of wooden walkways to protect the fragile habitat. Informational panels, including materials for children, were added along the routes.

'Besides the center, we now have a trail network covering both craters. Nature lovers can now reach places that were previously inaccessible. The entire pontoon system in Mohos was rebuilt for a fully civilized visit that minimizes impact on the wetland,' Dósa Elek-Levente explained.

The project began in 2022 and required strict environmental compliance due to the protected status of the area. According to the association, the new ecocenter 'creates a complex system that simultaneously supports conservation, improves visitor experience and promotes responsible tourism'.

Photo credit: Tánczos Barna / Facebook

Dósa Elek-Levente also emphasized the uniqueness of the site: 'From several perspectives, this is a unique location worldwide. St. Ana is the only volcanic lake in Central and Eastern Europe preserved in an intact crater. Mohos is an 80-hectare relict habitat from the Ice Age. Visiting it is like seeing what Europe looked like at the end of the glacial era.'

Photo credit: Tánczos Barna / Facebook

Deputy Prime Minister Tánczos Barna also attended the inauguration, calling Lake St. Ana 'a natural jewel of the Székely Land' and congratulated the associations managing tourism on their responsible approach, including bear-population management and visitor safety.

He also reiterated concerns about the lake's water quality, affected after fishermen introduced invasive fish species. 'I call for responsibility from those who believe nature must be invaded everywhere. I hope that, together with specialists from 'Sapientia' University in Miercurea-Ciuc, we will find a technical and scientific solution to restore the lake's natural balance,' Tánczos said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Gina Stefan; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)