Public perceptions and aesthetic preferences of lakeshore landscape: the example of Lake Velence (Hungary)

Abstract

Earlier, intervention programs and tourism development projects in the lakeside area of Lake Velence have led to the diversification of lakeshore landscape and shoreline. In the current study, we investigated the public aesthetic preferences of varying lakeshore landscapes, driving factors (which cause preference deviation and visual discomfort), and judgments of perceived beauty of 14 lakeshore scenes. The study also examined the differences in preferences of lakeshore landscapes between experts and waterfront residents. The results indicated that landscape characteristic and maintenance state have a significant impact on the receptor’s preference. In the investigation of lakeside landscape preference with different natural degrees, both the near-natural lakeshore and the natural lakeshore are lacking attention and attraction. Though natural (“wild”) lakeshore beneficial to the birds and other wildlife, overgrown riparian / aquatic plants and rigid shoreline caused visual fatigue and boredom feel. These findings provide a reference for the forthcoming lakeside intervention projects and land-use decisions.

“A Gem among the Rocks”—Identifying and Measuring Visual Preferences for Mountain Lakes

“…In general, the preferences across socio-cultural groups were highly homogeneous, in particular with regard to the water characteristics, as also found in other studies [2,3]. Nevertheless, we found few differences in preferences related to the lake shore and surrounding land cover across socio-cultural groups, mostly related to age and lake affinity, which is similar to Cai and Boromisza [13].…”

“…Based on the findings of previous studies [2,3,13], we hypothesise that water clarity and colour, the presence of algae, the composition of the lake shore and the surrounding land cover influence aesthetic preferences of mountain lakes. We therefore used a photobased questionnaire containing six different picture sets (see Section 3.3) related to (1) water clarity, (2) water colour, (3) presence of algae, (4) lake shore at lower altitudes, (5) lake shore at higher altitudes, and (6) surrounding land cover.…”

“…This study is novel in focusing on the visual preferences of the shore of natural mountain lakes, while other studies discussed issues related to human-made features or accessibility for large and low-elevated lakes [13,14]. In both picture sets, preferences seem to be influenced by the naturalness of the lake shore, e.g., grassland with signs of use (picture 4b) was least selected, while the amount of vegetation cover is not linked to the preferences (picture set 5).…”

“…Accordingly, clearer lakes were found to have higher visitation rates compared to those of lower levels of water clarity [11]. Moreover, the appearance of the lake shore and the surrounding landscape affects aesthetic experiences [12][13][14], while easy access to the water is important for aquatic sports or recreational activities at the lake shore [15].…”

Trends in Lakeshore Zone Development: A Comparison of Polish and Hungarian Lakes over 30-Year Period

“…After the Second World War, mostly in the 1960s and 1970s, new tourist facilities (boat harbors, beaches, cabins, etc.) started to develop at the shores of large lakes—especially at Lake Balaton and Lake Velence [ 56 ]. These developments effected those shore sections, which were near natural at that time, relatively far from the traditional settlements, and have become accessible after the shore engineering processes.…”