Studies of the landscape and its components of the Ignalina NPP region

The causes of landscape degradation in Lake Drukshiai basin are the following: building and operation of Ignalina NPP and Visaginas town with the service infrastructure. Landscape degradation map was compiled showing the areas effected by degradation, intensity of degradation and resistance of landscape against this process. It was determined that the highly de gradated landscape in the lake basin covers the area of 395.3 ha (1.43% without the lake). The landscape resistance to the processes of degradation depends on the migration fluxes of erosion products. The investigation revealed that erosion products in Lake Drukshiai basin are the least stable in the landscape with fluvioglacial sand and gravel deposits. The land flora in Ignalina NPP region is being represented by 617 plant species belonging to 81 family. Temperature, chemical and physical changes which occurred in the lake - cooler after the Ignalina NPP was put in operation were primarily evident in the structure and abundance of by-shore complexes of micro arthropods and insects.During the first five years of operation of Ignalina NPP the abundance and diversity of species at the shores of the lake increased 2.5 - 3.5 times. The genotoxic al impact of Ignalina NPP environment on local animal populations during 184 - 1996 period was slight and did not change significantly. (author)