Morphometric, hydrological characteristics and genesis of Lakes of the Povolzhskij section of the projected National Park Nizhegorodskoe Zavolzh'e

The article presents the results of researching of the morphometric and hydrological characteristics of a number of lakes in the territory of the Povolzhskij section of the projected National Park Nizhegorodskoe Zavolzh'e (Nizhny Novgorod region). The researched territory is located in the central part of the Nizhny Novgorod region in the left-bank part of the Volga River valley. Lakes are the landscape-forming framework of this territory. To date, reliable data, reflecting the features of the relief of the bottom of the lakes and their hydrological characteristics have been absent. During the research, a bathymetric survey of the lakes of the researched territory was carried out from the board of a boat, using an echo sounder, combined with a navigator. The results of field research were processed, using the geoinformation program QGIS, digital models of the relief of the basins of the researched lakes were created and their main morphometric and hydrological characteristics were calculated. Based on the analysis of morphometric characteristics of lakes and data on landscape features of their surroundings, were made conclusions about the fluvial origin of lake basins. The results of the research have both scientific significance, allowing detailed knowledge about the morphology and genesis of the lakes of the Middle Volga valley, and practical – being the centers of attraction of recreants in the projected national park, the lakes require a detailed research of morphological and hydrological parameters in order to effectively organize recreation