LAKE PAANAJARVI

A view on the lakeshore Photo. Photo: A.Freindling  
 

A. LOCATION

  • Karelian ASSR, Russia.*
  • 66:15-66:17N, 29:48-30:20E; 135 m above sea level.

  • * Place names are not updated.
 

B. DESCRIPTION

    Sharp broken forms of tectonic relief with large breaks and vertical displacements dominate in the Lake Paanajarvi region. A lot of picturesque lakes connected by swiftly flowing rivers and brooks with waterfalls and rapids are distributed among relatively high mountains.
    The lake basin is situated in large tectonic break which were not exposed to the influence of geological remarking or exogenous processes. The lake is surrounded by rocks, boulders or boulder-pebbles; sometimes banks are sandy. The lake is latitudely orientated; this feature with specific coast forms define original wind conditions and microclimate in the lake region.
    The flora of Paanajarvi region is notable for its richness and variety. There is plenty of rare plant species which require national protection. A number of species are on the area boundary.
    Lake Paanajarvi is one of the rare regions in Soviet Karelia where ecological systems of exceptional importance are still remaining in natural conditions. The creation of a national park with domestic and international tourism development may be the best perspective for Lake Paanajarvi (Q).
 

C. PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS (Q)

     
    Surface area [km2] 24
    Volume [km3] 0.89
    Maximum depth [m] 128
    Mean depth [m] 37.8
    Water level Unregulated
    Normal range of annual water level fluctuation [m] 2.5
    Length of shoreline [km] 50.5
    Residence time [yr] 0.4
    Catchment area [km2] 5,295
     
 

D. PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES

D1 GEOGRAPHICAL
  • Number of outflowing rivers and channels (name): 1 (Olanga R.)(Q).
D2 CLIMATIC (1)
  • Climatic data at Sodankyla*, 1951-1960
     
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Ann.
    Mean temp. [deg C] -13.5 -13.0 -9.0 -2.1 4.9 11.3 14.7 12.0 6.2 -0.5 -5.8 -9.8 -0.4
    Precipitation [mm] 27 26 20 31 31 56 74 71 57 43 39 31 508
    * 67:22N, 26:39E.
  • Number of hours of bright sunshine (Sodankyla, 1951-1960): 1,534 hr yr-1.
  • Snowfall: 47 cm.
  • Water temperature [deg C](Q)
     
    Central station, 1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    S*1 - - - *2 - 7.1 - - - - - -
    5 - - - 0.4 - 6.5 - - - - - -
    10 - - - 1.2 - 5.8 - - - - - -
    15 - - - 2.3 - 5.6 - - - - - -
    20 - - - 2.8 - 5.4 - - - - - -
    30 - - - 3.3 - 5.1 - - - - - -
    40 - - - 3.6 - 4.7 - - - - - -
    60 - - - 3.64 - 4.3 - - - - - -
    80 - - - 3.68 - 4.2 - - - - - -
    100 - - - 3.71 - 4.1 - - - - - -
    *1 Surface. *2 Ice cover.
  • Freezing period: 15 November-20 May.
  • Mixing type: Dimictic.
 

E. LAKE WATER QUALITY (Q)

E1 TRANSPARENCY [m]
    Central station, June 1988: 3.5-4.0.
E2 pH
     
    Central station, 1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0.5 - - - - - 7.0 - 7.2 - - - -
    5 - - - 7.0 - 7.0 - 7.0 - - - -
    15 - - - 7.0 - 6.8 - 7.1 - - - -
    25 - - - 7.0 - 6.8 - 6.8 - - - -
    45 - - - 7.0 - 6.8 - 6.8 - - - -
    75 - - - 6.8 - 6.8 - 6.7 - - - -
    105 - - - 6.4 - 6.8 - 6.8 - - - -
     
E3 SS [mg l-1]
     
    Central station, 1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0.5 - - - - - 2.2 - 0.4 - - - -
    5 - - - 0.8 - 1.6 - 0.4 - - - -
    15 - - - 2.3 - 2.0 - 0.0 - - - -
    25 - - - 1.2 - 2.1 - 1.0 - - - -
    45 - - - 1.1 - 2.0 - 0.9 - - - -
    75 - - - 0.8 - 2.6 - 0.5 - - - -
    105 - - - 1.7 - 2.0 - 0.0 - - - -
     
E4 DO [mg l-1]
     
    Central station, 1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0.5 - - - - - 11.2 - 9.6 - - - -
    5 - - - 10.2 - 10.7 - 9.2 - - - -
    15 - - - 13.0 - 10.8 - 9.0 - - - -
    25 - - - 11.2 - 10.6 - 8.9 - - - -
    45 - - - 10.6 - 10.6 - 8.9 - - - -
    75 - - - 9.1 - 10.6 - 8.8 - - - -
    105 - - - 8.6 - 10.0 - 9.1 - - - -
     
E5 COD [mg l-1]
    Determined by K2Cr2O7 method.
     
    Central station, 1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0.5 - - - - - - - 8.1 - - - -
    5 - - - 18.5 - - - 12.5 - - - -
    15 - - - 14.7 - - - 11.0 - - - -
    25 - - - 10.0 - - - 6.6 - - - -
    45 - - - 12.0 - - - 7.8 - - - -
    75 - - - 17.8 - - - 10.5 - - - -
    105 - - - 13.0 - - - 9.1 - - - -
     
    Determined by K2MnO4 method.
     
    Central station, 1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0.5 - - - - - 6.7 - 5.6 - - - -
    5 - - - 4.4 - 6.7 - 5.4 - - - -
    15 - - - 5.1 - 6.5 - 6.0 - - - -
    25 - - - 6.3 - 6.1 - 6.0 - - - -
    45 - - - 6.2 - 6.0 - 5.8 - - - -
    75 - - - 6.2 - 6.7 - 5.6 - - - -
    105 - - - 5.4 - 6.5 - 5.7 - - - -
     
E7 NITROGEN CONCENTRATION
  • Total-N [mg l-1]
     
    Central station, 1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0.5 - - - - - 1.05 - 1.15 - - - -
    5 - - - 1.78 - 0.98 - 1.27 - - - -
    15 - - - 1.88 - 0.98 - 0.95 - - - -
    25 - - - 2.46 - 0.94 - 1.15 - - - -
    45 - - - 2.14 - 0.59 - 1.06 - - - -
    75 - - - 1.82 - 0.63 - 0.64 - - - -
    105 - - - 1.53 - 0.68 - 0.61 - - - -
     
E8 PHOSPHORUS CONCENTRATION
  • Total-P [micro l-1]
     
    Central station, 1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0.5 - - - - - 5 - 4 - - - -
    5 - - - 8 - 5 - 2 - - - -
    15 - - - 7 - 11 - 7 - - - -
    25 - - - 6 - 5 - 2 - - - -
    45 - - - 5 - 7 - 6 - - - -
    75 - - - 7 - 14 - 2 - - - -
    105 - - - 7 - 10 - 5 - - - -
     
 

F. BIOLOGICAL FEATURES (Q)

F1 FLORA
  • Emerged macrophytes: Phragmites australis, Equisetum.
  • Floating macrophytes

  • Nuphar luteum, Polygonum amphibium, Sparganium friesii.
  • Submerged macrophytes

  • Potamogeton perfoliatus, Myriophyllum alterniflorum.
  • Phytoplankton: Cyclotella sp., Melosira sp., Tabellaria sp.
F2 FAUNA
  • Zooplankton

  • Daphnia cristata, Bosmina kessleri, Eudiaptomus graciloides, Cyclops scutifer, Euritemora lacustris.
  • Benthos

  • Littoral zone (Naididae sp., Chironomidae sp., Pontoporeia affinis); profound zone (Oligochaeta, Pontoporeia affinis, Triocladius parataricus, Procladius sp.).
  • Fish

  • Salmo trutta, Salvelinus lepechini, Coregonus lavaretus, C. albula, Esox lucius, Perca fluviatilis, Thymallus thymallus.
F4 BIOMASS
  • Phytoplankton

  • Summer
    Biomass: 0.2-0.4 [g m-3].
    Mean number: 300,000 [m-3].
  • Zooplankton

  • Biomass [g m-3]
    Summer: 0.18.
    Winter: 0.02-0.06.
    Mean number [m-3]
    Summer: 5,600.
    Winter: 400-700.
  • Benthos

  • Littoral zone (0-6 m)
    Biomass: 4.0 [g m-2].
    Mean number: 7,240 [m-2].
    Profound zone (6-128 m)
    Biomass: 0.30 [g m-2].
    Mean number: 340 [m-2].
  • Macrophytes [g (dry wt.) m-2]

  • Phragmites: 85 (77-98).
    Equisetum: 21 (5-46).
    Polygonum amphibium: 19 (18-20).
    Potamogeton perfoliatus: 7 (4-13).
 

G. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS (Q)

G1 LAND USE IN THE CATCHMENT AREA
    N.A.
G2 INDUSTRIES IN THE CATCHMENT AREA AND THE LAKE
    None.
G3 POPULATION IN THE CATCHMENT AREA
    N.A.
 

H. LAKE UTILIZATION

    N.A. (Q).
 

I. DETERIORATION OF LAKE ENVIRONMENTS AND HAZARDS (Q)

I1 ENHANCED SILTATION
  • Extent of damage: Not serious.
I2 TOXIC CONTAMINATION: None. I3 EUTROPHICATION: None. I4 ACIDIFICATION: None.

J. WASTEWATER TREATMENTS (Q)

J1 GENERATION OF POLLUTANTS IN THE CATCHMENT AREA
    (a) Pristine lake environments.
J2 APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF POLLUTANT LOADS
    N.A.
J3 SANITARY FACILITIES AND SEWERAGE
    None.
 

L. DEVELOPMENT PLANS (Q)

    None.
 

M. LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL MEASURES FOR UPGRADING LAKE ENVIRONMENTS

M1 NATIONAL AND LOCAL LAWS CONCERNED (Q)
  • Names of the laws (the year of legislation)
    1. Principles of Water Laws for the USSR (1971)
    2. RSFSR Water Code (1980)
  • Responsible authorities
    1. Local authorities
    2. State fish inspection
    3. State Committee of Environmental Protection
M2 RESEARCH INSTITUTES ENGAGED IN THE LAKE ENVIRONMENT STUDIES (Q)
  1. Karelian Centre of the Academy of Science of the USSR, Petrozavodsk
  2. Northern State Research Institute for Fish Industry, Petrozavodsk
 

N. SOURCES OF DATA

  1. Questionnaire filled by Dr. A. Freindling, Water Problem Department, Karelian Centre of the Academy of Science of the USSR, Petrozavodsk.
  2. Johannessen, T. W. (1970) The Climate of Scandinavia. "World Survey of Climatology, Volume 5, Climates of Northern and Western Europe" (ed. Wallen, C. C.), p. 65. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam- London-New York.