مقاله انگلیسی رایگان در مورد عوامل توسعه فرسایش آبی در مناطق تفریحی در اولخان – اسپرینگر 2018

The Ol’khon region is found in the central part of the large Cis-Baikal region. It represents a unique natural complex of steppe and forest-steppe landscapes. Active development of this territory in the recent decades has led to aggravation of land use conflicts related to the multifunctional use of lands (nature preservation, residential, agricultural, and recreational). Scientific knowledge is required to fine optimum land uses. At present, local landscapes mostly suffer from the unauthorized recreational activity. Recreational potential of the Ol’khon region is specified by a relatively favorable climate combined with an exceptional landscape diversity (from dry steppes to mountainous tundra), fascinating panoramic views, flora and fauna diversity, hydromineral resources, and high air quality. Unique natural monuments and the presence of rare and endangered species of plants and animals attract visitors; this is one of the most attractive regions in Irkutsk oblast. According to the administration of the Ol’khon region, there are about 100 recreation centers on its territory; in summers, about 20 children’s health camps work on the coast of Lake Baikal. Approximately half a million people visit the region in summer. Thus, in 2014, it was officially visited by 542600 people; a considerable part of the visitors preferred the nonorganized type of recreation [21]. The growth of tourist loads affects coastal landscapes and leads to the appearance of a dense network of illegal dirt roads. The area under buildings rapidly increases. Thus, in the recent decade, on the study area (19.86 km2 in area), buildings have been constructed on 1.25 km2 (6.3% of the study area). At the same time, the impact of the uncontrolled cattle grazing on the local ecosystems has decreased. The number of cattle increased from the beginning of the 20th century to the 1970s; the maximum livestock population was in 1970 (60000 heads); then, it began to decrease. In 2003, the livestock population was 15900 heads; in 2012, it was as low as 8279 heads [20, 26]. The soils of the investigated territory are characterized by the coarse texture of the upper horizons, thin gravelly profiles, weak leaching (disperse carbonates occur at the depth of 10–40 cm), the presence of the films of iron hydroxides, silica, and carbonates on rock fragments of different chemical compositions, considerable variability in the humus content upon a narrow range of textural changes, and the virtual absence of soluble salts and carbonate and gypsum concretions. Most of the soils are developed under the nonpercolative type of soil water regime. Diverse geological, geomorphic, and climatic conditions specify spatial differentiation of the soil cover [16, 17, 19]. The climate and water regime of the soils favor the development of erosional processes. The latter are enhanced under the impact of high recreation loads. In turn, water erosion of the soils disturbs the waterprotective function of geosystems in the basin of Lake Baikal. In this context, the determination of the intensity of water erosion in dependence on the particular landscape characteristics is important for the choice of appropriate nature protection activities.