Ecosystem features and environmental problems of lake Teletskoye (Republic of Altai)

Abstract

Lake Teletskoye is located in the north-eastern part of the Altai Mountains. This is a deep, dimictic, cold-water, ultra-fresh, oligotrophic reservoir with slow water exchange, high oxygen content and low amount of biogenic elements and organic substances. Aquatic communities of the lake are characterized by fairly rich species diversity, a few endemics, low abundance. Major environmental problems of lake Teletskoye are caused by the development of wild tourism. Construction of tourist facilities in the coastal zone as well as oil products from water transport lead to local pollution of the lake. Natural landscapes of its catchment area also undergo changes, in part due to falling of separable parts of carrier rockets launched from the Baikonur spaceport.