Dependence of recreational opportunities of lakes of the Chuya basin (the Altai Republic) on their genesis

Genesis of reservoirs has a special value at revealing recreational featuresof lakes in mountain districts, alongside with climatic characteristics. One of the ways of solving this problem is to define genesis of reservoirsby means of geoinformation technologies, aero photos and topomaps. Lakes of one genetic type have similar hydrological, trophic andrecreational features. We have allocated 4 basic genetic types of reservoirs (kar lakes, moraine-dammed, and reservoirs of postglacial complex)in the Chuya basin. Their general characteristics are given. Kar lakes are possible to be used only for a halt of tourists. The negative factors forrecreation concern low temperature of water, small sizes of reservoirs, absence of fish, limited opportunities for construction, inaccessibility.The attractive advantage is in the high aesthetic appeal of lake landscapes. Moraine-dammed reservoirs provide good conditions for organizationof rest at their sides. The aesthetic value of surrounding landscapes and presence of objects of fishery contributes to attractive conditions in themajority of large reservoirs. The main negative factors of these lakes are boggy, bushed or stony lakesides, low temperature of water (it is possibleto swim only in shallow, well warmed up zones of reservoirs). The highest opportunities for development of recreation characterise largereservoirs of postglacial complex and flowing thermokarst lakes. The greater water area can offer more varied kinds of rest, including all thedescribed for the previous types of lakes, and possesses greater recreational capacity. Flowing reservoirs adjust the quantity of oxygen in water,wash away and dilute the compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus, nitrates and phosphates, limit the development of seaweeds in epilimnion,thus, constraining the eutrophication process. The greater length of the lakeside line increases the choice options of a favourable place for arrangementof tourist camps and parking, enables to separate incompatible kinds of rest territorially. The majority thermokarst reservoirs duringthe year get warm enough for swimming, have suitable sides for organizing pebble and sand beaches; and some reservoirs have a good bottomslope in the zone of swimming. Small internal-drainage reservoirs and former river-bed and dystrophic thermokarst lakes do not represent interestfor recreation due to their bad sanitary and hygienic conditions, small sizes and absence of fish. During the several last field seasons we havecarried out further researches of all types of lakes in the Chuya basin. Their recreational potential is defined; and recommendations to its applicationare given.

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