Hydrological surveys of the Lake Peschanoe and the Sernovodsky isthmus of Kunashir island (Greater Kuril сhain)

¹ M.V. Lomonosov MSU, Faculty of Geography, 119991, Moscow, Russia
² State nature reserve “Kurilskiy”, 694500, Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Russia

^* Corresponding author: m.gri@geogr.msu.ru

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the largest lake of the island of Kunashir – the lake Peschanoe (means Sandy) – and the adjacent sections of the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. Despite its considerable size and relatively easy transport accessibility, the lake still remains relatively poorly explored. The topography of its bottom was studied, in particular, the maximum depth of the lake (23 m) was measured; hydrological and hydrobiological surveys of the lake were conducted; the influence of the wind on the intensity of mixing of the lake’s waters was assessed; lagoon origin of the lake was proven; the coastline of the Sea of Okhotsk in the vicinity of the lake was examined. It was revealed that the lake lost connection with the sea long enough so that there are no signs of salt in its water, but not so long enough that it stopped being inhabited by mesohalobiotic crustaceans. The influence of typhoons on the mixing of the lake’s waters is very great that is surprising for such a large lake. This is facilitated by its geographical position on the Sernovodsky isthmus, due to which it is open to both winds blowing from east and west.