Karkinitsky Gulf 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 trough. Length - more than 118 km.
Description
Karkinitsky Bay is characterized by a dissected coastline. Within its limits, there are accumulative forms (Dzharylgach Bay, Bakalskaya Spit, Kalanchak Islands) and indigenous peninsulas (Domuzgla, Gorkiy Ugol, Dengeltip), which divide the water area of the bay into smaller reservoirs. Among the latter, the following stand out: Dzharylgachsky, Korzhinsky, Kalanchaksky, Wide, Gorky and Perekopsky bays.
Bakalskaya Spit divides the Karkinitsky Bay of Crimea into the western part (up to 36 m deep) with sandy, relatively equal shores, and the eastern part (up to 10 m deep) with clay dissected shores. The bottom is made of sand, silt, shell rock. Sand underwater banks are also common.
The coastline has a complex configuration due to the existence of numeroussmall bays and sandbars. Geologically, the bay is located on the surface of the Karkinit trough, which is characterized by tectonic movement at a rate of 2.5-3.5 mm/year. The water temperature in summer is from +22 to +24 °С. During very cold winters, the bay freezes over. Salinity is about 17-18 0/00.
Geographical characteristic
The length of the coastline of the Karkinitsky Gulf is about 308 km, including 246 km within the Kherson region. The bay is 90 km wide and 118.5 km long. The area is 87,000 hectares. Altitude above sea level: 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. 0.6m to 4m.
Flora
The bottom vegetation is represented by green, char, red and brown algae and sea grasses. Seagrasses (6 species) and charophytes (2 species) dominate in shallow water, while red algae (2 species) dominate in the deep water.
Flora of the water area is represented by:
- 11 species of macrophytes listed in the Red Book of Ukraine;
- 1 species protected under the Berne Convention;
- 4 endemic species of various kinds.
Fauna
Ichthyofauna includes 46 species of fish, of which 4 are listed in the CCU. Under the protection of the Red Book of Ukraine and international securityThe list also contains 3 species of amphibians and reptiles, 3 species of cetaceans (dolphin-dolphin, 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 on the entire Black Sea coast is concentrated here (more than 260 species, of which 160 are protected).
Conservation value
The natural complex of the Karkinitsky Gulf is of great importance for the protection of migratory and permanently living species of birds, commercial fish and the conservation of biodiversity of the entire Black Sea region. The lagoon complex accommodates more than 3 million tons of plant matter in its shallow waters, which is 50% of all macrophyte reserves in the Black Sea (taking into account the catastrophic death of phytophthora in recent years).
On the seabed of the bay, aquatic species of vegetation are widespread, among which the leading place is occupied by Zostera Marina. Zostera nana also grows on some parts of the bottom. It is no coincidence that the Karkinit 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 waters 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 in the bay, attracting thousands of tourists. They are an ornithological branch of the Crimean Reserve,covering an area of 9612 hectares. The lands are protected as places of residence for over 250 species of waterfowl and their stops during spring and autumn migrations. Among them:
- herons;
- cormorants;
- swans;
- waders;
- flamingos;
- Gull Gulls;
- pelicans;
- grey terns;
- numerous types of ducks.
According to the scheme of physical-geographical zoning, the territory of the reserve belongs to the southern steppe subzone of the steppe zone. According to geobotanical zoning, the vegetation of the Lebyazhy Islands belongs to the Sivash district of the Black Sea steppe province of the European-Asian steppe region.
Rest
Karkinitsky Bay is a popular holiday destination among the local population due to its long sand and shell beaches. 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 - Crimean Autonomous Republic), Skadovsk, Iron Port (Republic of Ukraine).
