Home – Home – Jornals – Geography and Natural Resources 2022 number 3

For the first time, we provide a generalized description of the modern geomorphological structure - the landscapes of the Amut depression as one of the elements of the rift system of Northeastern Cisbaikalia. The main features in the relief formation of the depression are outlined, and the principal factors are determined. The study revealed a predominance of fluvial, lacustrine and cryogenic processes in the modern morphogenesis of the depression. Emphasis is placed on the study of the lakes. Modern methods of bathymetric surveys were used to determine the main parameters of the depressions of the major lakes in the depression: Amut, Malan-Zurkhen, Balan-Tamur and Churikto. It is established that ancient glaciers and tectonic movements were involved in the formation and configuration of the lake depressions. The current configuration of the coastal zone depends on the geological structure in which a special role is played by thermoabrasion and thermodenudation. Due to the fact that the study territory lies within the Dzherginskii State Nature Reserve with its principal mission to preserve natural systems, landscape investigations were carried out. A medium-scale map of the depression was compiled; it is based on Academician V.B. Sochava’s concept of geosystems with the use of classical methods of studying vegetation cover complemented with images taken by an unmanned flying vehicle, and with Earth remote sensing data. The salient features of the current status of the landscapes in the study area are highlighted. The main role in the structure of the landscapes is played by mountain-taiga and mountain-depression larch geosystems with mature moss-lichen cover. At higher hypsometric levels the area increases, which is occupied by subshrub-lichen sparse larch communities.