Chivyrkuisky Isthmus

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View of Chivyrkuisky Isthmus and Barguzin Bay from the top of the Holy Nose

The Chivyrkuisky Isthmus is a broad land bridge that connects the island-like mountainous part of the Svyatoy Nos ("Holy Nose") peninsula to the eastern shore of Lake Baikal. The isthmus and the "island" are part of the Zabaykalsky (Trans-Baikal) National Park of the Republic of Buryatia.

The isthmus is a roughly trapezoidal region of low-lying swapy terrain, about 15 km long, 24 km wide at the southeast (mainland) end, and 8 km wide at the northwest ("island") end. Both ends are limited by mountainous terrain. The northeast and southwest shores are smooth and gently curved inward, about 11 and 20 km long, respectively. The southwest shore of the isthmus ends next to the town of Ust-Barguzin.[1] The isthmus divides the strait between the island and the mainland into two bays, at the northeast and Barguzinsky Bay at the southwest.[2]

Thousands of years ago the isthmus did not exist, and Svyatoi Nos was an island. It was created by alluvial sediments of the Barguzin River.

Chivyrkuisky Isthmus is one of the three nesting areas of Baikal's waterfowl and birds of prey. It is an unusual alternation of sand bars and coastal marshes, showing species of mountainous and steppe vegetation growing side by side. Some trees like bird cherry and common pines grow close to ground, as creeping bush. Sand levees stretch for many kilometers along the banks of the isthmus.[3]

The isthmus is almost divided in two by a shallow body of water, (or Bol'shoy Sor), measuring about 13 by 7 km and about 54 km2 of area. The lake is fed on the eastern side by streams from the mainland, and its outlet is near the north corner of the isthmus, near the "island", just east of the small village of .[1] The lake and its bays are inhabited by dace, perch, pike, and other types of fish. Many rare bird species nest on its shores: whooper swan, black-throated loon, Eurasian curlew, and others.[3]

The southwest side of the isthmus is a beach of exceptionally clean sand, . The road leading to the Svyatoi Nos crosses the isthmus parallel to the beach.[3]

The have about 120 mud volcanoes (gryphons)[4] and hydrothermal springs, on land and underwater, scattered over about 40 km2. The waters may be up to 80 °C, and contain high levels of dissolved and other chemicals, up to 3 g/L – chiefly sodium sulfate, chloride, and fluoride, as well as silicic acid. The gryphons range in diameter from 20 cm to 7 m,[5] and are responsible for many small shallow warm brackish ponds, round or oval, with depths ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 m, and areas from 10 to 300 m2, whose level may be up to 1 meter above or below the level of Lake Baikal. The largest ones cover up to 2500 m2. The springs also form wam rivers that rarely or never freeze in winter. The main group of those hydrothermal-fed lakes, which includes , near the mouth of the Barguzin river.[2] The waters and bottom mud (sapropel) are reputed to have health properties.[3]

Until recently, the settlement was located near an active mud volcano. Due to the threat of gas poisoning and livestock poisoning by the salty water, residents were forced to relocate.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Google Maps "Svyatoy Nos". Accessed on 2019-06-05.
  2. ^ a b A. A. Dzuba (2007): "Гидротермы Байкальской впадины и платформенных областей южной части Сибирской платформы". ГЕОГРАФИЯ И ПРИРОДНЫЕ РЕСУРСЫ, volume 2007, issue 4, pages 49-53.
  3. ^ a b c d L. Shishmareva, E. Trofimova, Alex Triumfov, and others (2012): The Precious Necklace of Baikal. Special edition of Мир Байкала ("World of Baikal") Magazine, published by EKOS (Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia).
  4. ^ "One of the many mud volcanoes in the Kulina marshes". Photo from website Природа Байкала ("Baikal Nature"), accessed on 2019-06-05.
  5. ^ a b (2006): "Kulinye Marshes". Section of website Природа Байкала ("Baikal Nature"), accessed on 2019-06-05.

Coordinates: 53°33′54″N 109°01′16″E / 53.565°N 109.021°E / 53.565; 109.021

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