GEOЕCOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF LAKE KARA-KEL OF THE KARACHAY-CHERKESS REPUBLIC

Abstract

The purpose of this study is a comprehensive ecological and geographical assessment of Lake Kara-Kel, lo- cated in the protected zone of the Teberdinsky National Park. When studying Lake Kara-Kel, extensive material was obtained by stationary and expeditionary methods. Complex indicators of water quality were used for hydro- chemical assessment of the lake surface waters. Trophic assessment of the aquatic ecosystem was performed using ITS calculation. As a result of the survey of the lake and the hydrochemical analysis of the water, a comprehensive assessment of the lake landscape was given. The lake has a small size, the mirror area is 2.7 hectares. The bottom relief is flat, the depth drop is uniform, the maximum depth reaches 9.0 meters. The average annual value of the water pollution index was 0.91 and characterized the surface water of the lake «clean» 2 quality classes. The specific combinatorial index of water pollution in the reporting year amounted to 1.7 and characterized water as “slightly contaminated” class 2. No critical contamination was observed. Exceeding the MAC was observed for 5 ingredients of the chemical composition. Lake Kara-Kel is characterized by a moderate amount of nutrients dissolved in water, a high content of dissolved oxygen, and weak mineralization. Over the past nine years, the quality of the surface water of the lake has significantly improved. Concentrations of aluminum, manganese, copper and petroleum prod- ucts in 2021 in lake water did not exceed the MAC; and the concentration of total phenols decreased by 4.7 times. The development of tourism in combination with the rational use of water bodies and the conduct of geoecological monitoring is a promising solution to the socio-ecological and environmental tasks of sustainable mining development of the republic.