Morphometric features and genesis of the lake basins of Lake Bol’shoe Svyatoe Dedovskoe and Lake Maloe Svyatoe Dedovskoe (Volga Upland, Russia)

Abstract

The article presents the results of a research of morphometric and hydrological characteristics of Lake Bol’shoe Svyatoe Dedovskoe and Lake Maloe Svyatoe Dedovskoe, which are the landscape and hydrological center of the state natural monument “Lake Svyatoe Dedovskoe”. The lakes are located in the north-west of the Volga upland in the Nizhny Novgorod region; it has meaningful scientific (zoological, botanical, geological, geomorphological) significance, performs a water-regulating function, serves as a habitat for rare species of plants and animals. During the research a bathymetric survey was performed from the boat using an echo sounder, combined with a navigator. The results of field research were processed, using the geoinformation program QGIS, a bathymetric map of the lake basins was created and their main morphometric and hydrological characteristics were calculated. Based on the analysis of the morphometric characteristics of the lake and data on the landscape features of its surroundings, conclusions were drawn about the origin of the lake basin.