Karkinitsky Bay is one of the largest bays of the Black Sea between the northwestern coast of the Crimean peninsula and mainland Europe. It was formed as a result of transgression, which spread along the axis of the tectonic deflection. The length is more than 118 km.
Description
Karkinitsky Bay is characterized by a dissected coastal strip. Within its limits, accumulative forms (Dzharylgachsky Bay, Bakalskaya Spit, Kalanchak Islands) and indigenous peninsulas (Domuzgla, Gorky Ugol, Dengeltip) are distinguished, which divide the water area of the bay into smaller water bodies. Among the latter, the following stand out: Dzharylgachsky, Korzhinsky, Kalanchaksky, Wide, Gorky and Perekopsky bays.
The Bakalskaya spit divides the Karkinitsky Gulf of Crimea into the western part (up to 36 m deep) with sandy, relatively equal coasts, and the eastern (up to 10 m deep) with clay dissected shores. The bottom is made of sand, silt, shell rock. Sandy underwater banks are also common.
The coastline has a complex configuration due to the existence of numerous small bays and sand spits. Geologically, the bay is located on the surface of the Karkinitsky Depression, which is characterized by tectonic movement at a speed of 2.5-3.5 mm / year. Water temperature in summer is from +22 to +24 ° . During very cold winters, the bay freezes. Salinity is about 17-18 0/00 .
Geographic feature
The length of the coastal strip of the Karkinitsky Bay is about 308 km, including 246 km within the Kherson region. The width of the bay is 90 km, the length is 118.5 km. The area is 87,000 ha. Altitude: minimum - 0.4 m, maximum - 2.2 m.
The maximum depth of the bay opposite the settlements of Zhelezny Port and Bolshevik is 17-20 m. The depth of the coastal strip along the entire line of the bay within the Kherson region ranges from 0.6 m to 0.8 m. Within the Crimean peninsula, from 0.6 m to 4 m
Flora
Bottom vegetation is represented by green, chara, red and brown algae and sea herbs. Shallow water is dominated by marine grasses (6 species) and char algae (2 species), in the deepwater part, red algae (2 species).
Flora of the water area is represented by:
- 11 types of macrophytes listed in KKU (Red Book of Ukraine);
- 1 view protected by the Berne Convention;
- 4 types of endemic species of various kinds.
Fauna
The ichthyofauna has 46 species of fish, of which 4 are listed in the CCU. Under the protection of the Red Book of Ukraine and international conservation lists there are also 3 species of amphibians and reptiles, 3 species of cetaceans (dolphin-squirrel cod, azovka and bottlenose dolphin).
The water area of the Karkinitsky Gulf of the Black Sea is located on one of the most important European bird migration routes. The largest number of wetland species is concentrated here on the entire Black Sea coast (more than 260 species, of which 160 are protected).
Conservation value
The natural complex of Karkinitsky Bay is important for the protection of migratory and ever-living species of birds, commercial fish and the conservation of biodiversity of the entire Black Sea region. The lagoon complex contains more than 3 million tons of plant mass in its shallow waters, which makes up 50% of all macrophyte reserves in the Black Sea (taking into account the catastrophic death of phytophthora in recent years).
On the seafloor of the gulf, aquatic species of vegetation are widespread, among which the leading place is occupied by Zostera Marina. Also in some parts of the bottom Zostera nana grows. It is no coincidence that Karkinitsky Bay is of great importance as a food base for migratory birds. This area is protected by the Ramsar Convention. In the fauna within the water area of the bay, the most common are various hydroid forms (jellyfish, combs, etc.), mollusks, crustaceans, and fish.
Swan Islands
One of the most beautiful places of the bay, attracting thousands of tourists. They are the ornithological branch of the Crimean reserve, covering an area of 9612 hectares. The land is protected as a residence for over 250 species of waterfowl and their stops during spring-autumn migrations. Among them:
- herons;
- cormorants;
- swans
- waders;
- flamingo;
- laughing gulls;
- pelicans;
- terns-tegraves;
- numerous species of ducks.
According to the scheme of physical and geographical zoning, the territory of the reserve belongs to the southern steppe subzone of the steppe zone. By geobotanical zoning, the Swan Islands vegetation belongs to the Prisivash district of the Black Sea steppe province of the European-Asian steppe region.
Relaxation
Thanks to its long sandy-shell beaches, Karkinitsky Bay is a popular holiday destination among the local population. Due to the small average depth, the water masses warm up quite quickly - you can swim in May. The climate is mild, steppe. Popular destinations among tourists are the cities of Armyansk, Krasnoperekopsk (both - Crimea), Skadovsk, Iron Port (Republic of Ukraine).