Lighting the lakeside

At the very eastern edge of Austria, and extending just a bit into northwestern Hungary, you'll find this elevated nation's lowest point, Lake Neusiedl. In this transitional region, the peaks and foothills of the Alps give way to the flattened Pannonian Steppe, the westernmost stretch of the vast Eurasian Steppe.Podersdorf am See, a town on this endorheic lake's eastern coast, is home to the reedy shoreline's only lighthouse (and one of only three in Austria). Rather than guide shipping—Neusiedl is only about 6 feet deep and unsuited to moving cargo—the light serves as a storm warning for recreational boaters and watersports enthusiasts.