LAKE NAROCH

A view form the lakeside hill

Photo.
Photo: Res.Lab.Limnol., Belarus State Univ.


A. LOCATION

  • Belarus.

  • 54:51N, 26:46E; 165 m above sea level.


B. DESCRIPTION

    Lake Naroch is the largest inland water body in Belarus. It belongs to the system of the River Vulija, a right-side tributary of the River Neman leading to the Baltic Sea.
    The lake basin originates from the glacial action of the last Ice Age, and is bordered by 45 50 m high slopes of Sventsyanskaja Range on its north and northeast sides and Narochano-Vilenskaja lowland on the south side. Complicated bathy-orogenic processes led to the formation of many local hollows on the lake bottom reaching a maximum depth of 24.8 m. The lake shores are mostly sandy or shingly.
    Atmospheric precipitation plays an important role as the source of lake water, accounting for about 45% of incoming water. The share of surface inflow is 35%. The turnover time of the lake water is eight years. The annual range of water level fluctuation is normally about 0.3 m (up to 0.7 m in some years). Transparency amounts to 10 m during the freezing period, but decreases to 5 7 m in summer. The lake water is homogeneously saturated with dissolved oxygen throughout the year, and has total mineral contents less than 200 mg l-1.
    Twenty-one percent of the lake area is covered by macrophytes consisting of 38 species. Phytoplankton flora contains 361 taxa, of which only 12 are dominants. There are 9 species of Cladocera, 13 species of Copepoda, 13 species of Rotatoria and 17 species of Infusoria. The community of macrozoobenthos consists of 60 taxa and that of fish of 25 species. Avifauna is remarkably rich and includes such species as Pandion haliaetus, Sterna albifrons and Podiceps ruficollis which are mentioned in the Red Data Book of the Republic.
    Picturesque landscape and good water quality of L. Naroch create favorable sites for various kinds of recreation. There are many camping sites and sanatoria on the lake shore (1).

C. PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS (1)

    Surface area [km2] 79.6
    Volume [km3] 0.710
    Maximum depth [m] 24.8
    Mean depth [m] 8.9
    Water level Regulated
    Normal range of annual water level fluctuation [m] 0.3
    Length of shoreline [km] 41
    Residence time [yr] 8.0
    Catchment area [km2] 279

D. PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES

D1 GEOGRAPHICAL (1)
  • Bathymetric map: Fig. EUR-49-1.

  • Number of main islands (name and area): Ostrov (0.06 km2).

  • Number of outflowing rivers and channels (name): 1 (R. Naroch).

D2 CLIMATIC (3)
  • Climatic data at Lake Naroch Station, 1961-1986

    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Ann.
    Mean temp. [deg C] -7.1 -6.8 -2.2 4.6 11.9 15.4 16.8 15.5 11.2 6.1 1.1 -3.8 5.2
    Precipitation [mm] 42 34 40 49 60 75 77 72 62 58 61 53 683

    Fig. EUR-49-1
    Bathymetric map [m].

  • Water temperature [deg C]

    Station 4, 1985-1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0 0.3 0.4 0.8 6.5 15.0 17.3 18.9 18.0 13.2 5.6 3.8 0.4
    20 2.6 2.9 3.3 4.6 9.1 11.4 14.3 16.8 13.5 6.2 4.4 2.5
  • Freezing period: From December to April.

  • Mixing type: Polymictic.


E. LAKE WATER QUALITY (2)

E1 TRANSPARENCY (4)
    Station 4, 1978
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    - - 10.3 - - - 7.4 - 4.1 - - -
E2 pH
    Station 4, 1985-1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0 - 7.8 7.8 7.7 7.4 - - 8.0 7.9 - - -
    20 - 7.8 7.7 7.7 7.7 - - 7.7 7.9 - - -
E3 SS [mg l-1](3)
    Station 4, 1986-1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0 - 21.7 8.2 12.8 6.7 - - 6.4 - - - -
    20 - 7.2 10.5 3.3 8.2 - - 6.0 - - - -
E4 DO [mg l-1]
    Station 4, 1985-1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0 - 12.8 12.2 12.2 12.4 - - 10.5 - - - -
    20 - 11.0 8.4 10.1 8.2 - - 8.0 - - - -
E5 COD [mg l-1](3)
    Determined by K2Cr2O7 method.
    Station 4, 1985-1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0 - 13.7 10.7 7.6 15.8 - - 12.3 18.4 - - -
    20 - 16.2 13.0 11.0 17.3 - - 13.5 16.0 - - -
E6 CHLOROPHYLL CONCENTRATION (4): Fig. EUR-49-2.

    Fig. EUR-49-2
    Seasonal trend of chlorophyll a concentration, 1980 1982 [micro l-1].

E7 NITROGEN CONCENTRATION (3)
  • Total mineral-N [(NH4+NO2+NO3)-N][mg l-1]

    Station 4, 1985-1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0 - 0.12 0.43 0.11 0.21 - - 0.20 0.14 - - -
    20 - 0.29 0.14 0.10 0.26 - - 0.12 0.10 - - -
E8 PHOSPHORUS CONCENTRATION (3)
  • Total-P [micro l-1]

    Station 4, 1985-1988
    Depth [m] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    0 - 6 2 15 45 - - 24 - - - -
    20 - 6 23 15 63 - - 57 - - - -
E10 PAST TRENDS (3)
  • pH

    Depth [m] 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
    0 7.9 8.1 8.1 7.8 7.9 7.9 7.9 8.0 8.1 8.0 7.8 7.7
    20 7.8 7.9 8.0 7.9 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.9 7.9 7.8 7.7
    Depth [m] 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
    0 7.8 7.8 7.9 7.8 7.5
    20 7.8 7.7 7.8 7.8 7.7
  • SS [mg l-1]

    Depth [m] 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986
    0 3.1 3.6 5.5 2.4 4.1 5.8 3.2 5.6 7.4 13.8 6.8
    20 6.2 6.2 6.8 4.2 2.3 5.7 2.9 8.4 12.0 18.6 5.5
    Depth [m] 1987 1988
    0 3.6 8.7
    20 4.3 6.1
  • DO [mg l-1]

    Depth [m] 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
    0 10.9 11.3 11.9 11.7 11.0 12.1 10.9 11.5 10.9 11.2 11.4
    20 9.4 9.6 10.4 10.8 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.1 8.8 8.1 8.9
    Depth [m] 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
    0 10.8 12.2 12.7 11.5 11.9 11.1
    20 10.2 10.6 9.5 8.2 8.6 9.5
  • COD [mg l-1]

    Determined by K2Cr2O7 method.
    Depth [m] 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
    0 9.3 13.3 16.3 11.5 10.5 18.0 - 17.5 14.9 17.9 30.1
    20 10.5 12.4 18.7 14.0 12.3 22.3 - 15.6 17.7 19.4 31.3
    Depth [m] 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
    0 11.1 14.7 18.1 13.2 12.5 8.1
    20 16.3 17.0 21.6 12.2 14.8 10.7
  • Total mineral-N [(NH4+NO2+NO3)-N][mg l-1]

    Depth [m] 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986
    0 0.04 0.16 0.18 0.19 0.08 0.14 0.13 0.12 0.12 0.06 0.23
    20 0.03 0.15 0.27 0.24 0.10 0.14 0.13 0.20 0.13 0.12 0.22
    Depth [m] 1987 1988
    0 0.50 0.22
    20 0.32 0.08
  • PO4-P [micro l-1]

    Depth [m] 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
    0 7 9 22 3 - - - 6 12 9 11
    20 8 25 11 7 - - - 9 15 9 17
    Depth [m] 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
    0 25 7 8 23 3 56
    20 24 12 8 31 18 54

F. BIOLOGICAL FEATURES (4)

F1 FLORA
  • Emerged macrophytes
    Scirpus lacustris, Phragmites australis, Eleocharis palustris.
  • Floating macrophytes
    Nymphaea candida, Nuphar lutea, Potamogeton natans, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Polygonum amphibium.
  • Submerged macrophytes
    Elodea canadensis, Potamogeton perfoliatus, P. lucens, P. crispus, P. compressus, P. filiformis, P. friensii, P. gramineus, P. pectinatus, P. praelongus, P. pusillus, Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Submerged macroalgae
    Chara fragilis, C. rudis, C. ceratophylla, C. aspera, C. contraris, C. foetida, C. polyacantha, Cladophora aegagrophila.
  • Phytoplankton
    Chlamydomonas sp., Asterionella formosa, Rhodomonas pusilla, Cryptomonas ovata var. ovata, Cyclotella comta var. comta, Dinobryon divergens var. divergens, D. sociale var sociale, Melosira granulata var. granulata, M. italica var. italica, M. varians, Anabaena lemmermanii, Synedra acus var. acus, Ankistrodesmus minutissimus, Ceratium hirundinella, Peridinium sp., Gloeotrichia echinulata.
F2 FAUNA
  • Zooplankton
    Rotatoria (Polyarthra vulgaris, Keratella cochlearis, K. quadrata, Kellicottia longispina, Trichocerca sp., Conochilus unicornis, Synchaeta sp., Euchlanis dilatata, Asplanchna priodonta, Filinia longiseta, Brachionus angularis, B. calyciflorus, Pompholyx sulcata); Copepoda (Mesocyclops leuckarti, Macrocyclops albidus, M. fuscus, Eucyclops serrulatus, Cyclops scutifer, C. vicinus, C. strenuus, Acanthocyclops viridis, A. gigas, Microcyclops gracilis, M. bicolor, M. oithonoides , M. crassus); Cladocera (Daphnia cucullata, Bosmina coregoni, Chydorus sphaericus, Diaphanosoma brachyurum, Ceriodaphnia reticulata, Alona affinis, Acroperus harpae, Leptodora kindtii, Bythotrephes longimanus).
  • Benthos
    Chironomus f. plumosus, C. anthracinus, Cryptochironomus defectus, C. vulneratus, Procladius ferrugineus, Tanytarsus gregarius, Pseudochironomus prasinatus, Stictochironomus psammophilus, Lymnaea stagnalis, Radix auricularia, R. ovata, R. pereger, Stagnicola palustris, Unio pictorum, U. timidus, U. crassus, Anodonta cygnea, Aelosoma hemprichi, Stylaria lacustris, Ripistes parasitae.
  • Fish
    Coregonus albula*, C. lavaretus maraenoides*, C. peled, Esox lucius*, Rutilus rutilus*, Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Blicca bjoerkna, Alburnus alburnus, Tinca tinca*, Gobio gobio, Cyprinus carpio, Carassius auratus gibelio, C. carassius*, Lenciscus idus, Abramis brama, Phodeus sericeus, Misgurnus fossilis, Gebitis taenia, Silurus glanis, Anguilla anguilla*, Lota lota, Perca fluviatilis*, Acerina cernua, Cottus gobio, Lucioperca lucioperca * (* economically important).
F3 PRIMARY PRODUCTION RATE: Fig. EUR-49-3. 1976-1981

    Fig. EUR-49-3
    Vertical distribution of the rates of photosynthesis and decomposition of organic matter.

F4 BIOMASS: Fig. EUR-49-4 and 5.

    Fig. EUR-49-4
    Seasonal trend of total phytoplankton biomass, 1980. 1, 2: pelagic zone. 3: littoral zone.

    Fig. EUR-49-5
    Seasonal trend of zooplankton biomass, 1976 1979.

  • Biomass of zoobenthos, 1977: 6.76 [g m-2].

F5 FISHERY PRODUCTS
  • Annual fish catch [metric tons]
    1979: 70.
F6 PAST TRENDS: Fig. EUR-49-6, 7, 8 and 9.

    Fig. EUR-49-6
    Past trend of primary production rate.

    Fig. EUR-49-7
    Past trends of the population density and biomass of phytoplankton in August.

    Fig. EUR-49-8
    Past trend of zooplankton biomass.

  • Past trend of zoobenthos biomass [g m-2]

    1956 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
    Biomass 9.17 7.09 11.50 9.43 9.41 12.03
    Mean+-SD +-0.96 +-0.82 +-1.23 +-0.86 +-1.24 +-1.11
    1965 1968 1975 1976 1977
    Biomass 11.68 10.48 5.85 16.87 6.76
    Mean+-SD +-1.28 1.28 +-1.05 +-2.10 +-0.85

    Fig. EUR-49-9
    Past trend of fishery production.


G. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

G1 LAND USE IN THE CATCHMENT AREA (2, 5) (1980)
    Area [km2] [%]
    Natural landscape
    - Woody vegetation 3,438 58.4
    - Grassland vegetation 124 2.1
    - Swamp 231 3.9
    - Other areas 15 0.2
    Agricultural land
    - Crop field 1,417 24.1
    - Pasture land 191 3.2
    Residential area 236 4.0
    Others 233 4.0
    Total 5,885 100.0
  • Main species of forest vegetation
    Pinus sylvestris, Betula pendula, Picea abies.
  • Main species of scrub vegetation
    Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, V. myrtillus.
  • Main kinds of crops: Wheat, rye.

  • Levels of fertilizer application on crop fields: Moderate.


H. LAKE UTILIZATION

H1 LAKE UTILIZATION
    Sightseeing and tourism, recreation (swimming, sport-fishing and yachting) and fisheries.

I. DETERIORATION OF LAKE ENVIRONMENTS AND HAZARDS

I1 ENHANCED SILTATION
  • Extent of damage: None.

I2 TOXIC CONTAMINATION
  • Present status: Not serious (2).

  • Main contaminants, their concentrations and sources (3) (1988)

    Name of contaminant Range of concentrations Main sources [mg l-1]
    Oil products 0.0-0.18 Boats
    Cu 0.0-0.007
    Ni 0.0-0.014
    Hexachloran, 10-3 0.0-0.005
  • Ecological limits of permissible pollutant concentration in the water environment [mg l-1]
    Oil products 0.05, Cu, Ni, Zn 0.01, Pb 0.1, phenols 0.001, hexachloran, DDT zero.
  • Past trend of the concentration of toxic substances [mg l-1](3)

    1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
    Oil products 0.28 0.17 0.07 0.11 0.09 0.25
    Cu 0.001 - - 0.003 0.007 0.008
    Ni 0.004 - - - - -
    Zn - 0.004 - - 0.006 -
    Phenols 0.03 0.002 0.005 0.008 0.004 0.006
    Hexachloran, 10-3 0.018 0.005 0.003 - 0.010 0.008
    DDT, 10-3 0.013 0.012 0.009 - - -
    1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
    Oil products 0.14 0.12 0.15 0.12 0.11 0.05
    Cu 0.006 0.005 0.006 0.004 0.004 0.003
    Ni 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.003 0.009 0.002
    Zn 0.006 0.007 - - - -
    Phenols 0.032 0.004 0.001 0.0 0.001 0.0
    Hexachloran, 10-3 - 0.004 0.003 0.0 0.0 0.0
    DDT, 10-3 0.0 - - - - -
I3 EUTROPHICATION
  • Nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to the lake (2, 5) (1989)

    Sources [kg day 1]
    T-N (NH4+NO2+NO3) 195
    T-P 15
I4 ACIDIFICATION
  • Extent of damage: None.


J. WASTEWATER TREATMENTS

J1 GENERATION OF POLLUTANTS IN THE CATCHMENT AREA
    (c) Limited pollution with wastewater treatment.
J2 APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF POLLUTANT LOADS (2, 5) (1989)
    [%]
    Non-point sources
    - Precipitation 45
    - Natural 37
    - Agricultural 12
    - Recreation 4
    - Others 2
    Total 100

L. DEVELOPMENT PLANS

    It is planned to construct hydrotechnical structures (such as stabilization ponds) within the watershed area to reduce the input of biogenic compounds and pollutants to the lake.

M. LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL MEASURES FOR UPGRADING LAKE ENVIRONMENTS (1)

M1 NATIONAL AND LOCAL LAWS CONCERNED
  • Names of the laws (the year of legislation)

    1. On measures for the protection and rational using of natural resources in the Lake Naroch Basin (1977)
    2. On excluding the surface wash of mineral fertilizers into the Narochanskie Lakes (1981)
    3. On scheme of the complex usage and protection of water and land resources within the Lake Naroch Basin (1981)
    4. On ratification of the law concerning the water-protecting zones of Belarus water bodies (1989)
    5. On measures for protection and rational usage of Belarus water bodies (1989)
  • Responsible authorities

    1. Republic Belarus State Committee for Ecology
M2 INSTITUTIONAL MEASURES
  1. Ecological Union of Belarus
M3 RESEARCH INSTITUTES ENGAGED IN THE LAKE ENVIRONMENT STUDIES
  1. Scientific Branch, Research Laboratory of Limnology, Belarus State University, Minsk
  2. Problems Scientific-Research Laboratory of Experimental Biology, Group of Hydrobiology, Belarus State University
  3. Belarus Board of Hydrometeorology and Environmental Control
  4. Belarus Scientific-Research and Design Institute of Fisheries

N. SOURCES OF DATA

  1. Questionnaire filled by Messrs. O. F. Iakushko, V. P. Romanov, L. V. Gurianova, S. F. Tumishskaya and A. H. Pachevskij, Scientific Branch, Research Laboratory of Limnology, Belarus State University, Minsk.
  2. Iakushko, O. F., Myslievec, I. A., et al. (1988) Belarus Lakes. Minsk. 216 pp.
  3. Scientific Branch, Research Laboratory of Limnology, Belarus State University (1980) Report on Biogenic Element Input and Features of Lake Naroch Overrunning at the Anthropogenic Effects. Minsk.
  4. Belarus Board of Hydrometeorology and Environmental Control (1990) Statistical Data for 1961 1988. Minsk.
  5. Vinberg, G. G. (ed.)(1985) An Ecological System of Narochan's Lakes. Minsk. 303 pp.
  6. Scientific Branch, Research Laboratory of Limnology, Belarus State University (1985) Report on Alterations of Lake Ecosystems as a Result of Man Activity. Minsk.

    7. * All printed in Russian.