WATER PROBLEMS OF TAIGA-ALAS LANDSCAPES IN CENTRAL YAKUTIA AND PROBLEMS OF WATER SUPPLY OF POPULATION
Desyatkin R.V. (1)
(1) Institute for biological problems of cryolitholozone SB RAS
The river net on plains of Central Yakutia is weakly developed, as Chistyakov G.E. elucidated (1964) the density of river net amounts to 0.2 km/km2 and this is the most low index not only in Yakutia, but also in whole zone of boreal forests. As the consequence of weak drainability on high-icy territories, the thermokarst hollow shape of relief called alas gained wide-scale development. On territory of Central Yakutia there are more than 16 000 alases. Each alas depression has the lake on it as the required component of landscape. The 1/3 of rural population of Yakutia inhabit on watershed area, the alas lakes are the only source of water supply for inhabitants for potable water and water for technical needs. Alas lakes experience the cyclical fluctuations because of natural rhythms. During the short period of time these lakes can have sudden water level fluctuations, also they can completely dry up and emerge again. The natural water reserve fluctuations in alas lakes is one of the negative factor which has an influence on stable development of region. Recently the anthropologic factors also begun to have an influence. The intensification of anthropogenic press on taiga-alas landscapes during the second half of the 20th century (such as forest demolition, soil compacting, degradation of alas meadows and so on) caused the appearance of big degradation centers of natural landscapes. These centers brought to water balance violation (aridity) on vast territories. As the result of negative influence of human being during the last 30-40 years the reduction of small river’s run-off and also catastrophical dehydration of alas depressions accomponied with the total dry up of it’s lakes exists. The critical shortage of potable water and the decrease of natural productivity of alas meadows on big territories occured. For potable water provision for population of alas regions there have been built big water line from Lena river to lake Moury and to upper course of Suola and Tatta rivers. Total lenght of water lines amount to 250 km, the diameter of water line is between 680 and 1200 mm. According to the project calculations, for replenishment of alas lakes along the water lines 20 million m3 of water will be pumped over. The usage of river water for replenishment of alas lakes, which has been replenished before by the less mineralized atmospheric precipitations and also the entrance of heightened iron quantity with water may cause new problems in alases’s water ecosystems.
Submittal Information
Name :
Date :
Roman Vasilyevich Desyatkin
30-Jul-04-10:16:21
Organization :
Theme :
Institute for biological problems of cryolitholozone SB RAS