MANIFESTATIONS OF UNFAVORABLE GEOGRAPHICAL PROCESSES WITHIN THE SMOTRICH CANYON OF KAMENETS-PODOLSKY
Authors: Menderetskyi Vadym , Mysko Volodymyr , Prydetkevych Stanislav 
Published: July 2021

The research allowed the authors to identify various types of adverse, destructive and erosion processes in the canyon of the Smotrych River. Now the ecological situation within the Smotrytsya canyon is quite difficult. The main factor in the deterioration of the situation is anthropogenic and man-made load: quarrying, garbage accumulation, unauthorized agriculture on the slopes of the canyon.

Within the Smotric canyon, natural water and wind erosion are manifested, which in most cases are combined and the processes of destruction as a result of their action are intensified. Studies of erosion processes in the canyon of the Smotrich River have revealed a great variety of their manifestations.

Karst processes are a typical manifestation of water erosion in the study area. Among the surface forms of karst, microforms (crates of various types) predominate. Individual karst funnels are less common. We discovered a karst cave located near Bilanivska embankment. Its area is 6 m2. The walls are covered with cracks, dominated by horizontal, less vertical, but they are larger. Turfed, covered type of karst can be found on the section where the river Smotrich encircles the Old Town in the direction of the village. Poodles.

Lateral erosion is due to slope processes and erosion of the riverbed. It causes the migration of the riverbed, watercourse, the formation of river meanders, widens the river valley. Within the Smotric canyon, this type of erosion occurs in places where the shoreline is formed of clay soil. Inflows and outflows of water masses during the season also change the structure of the soil.

Wind deflation and weathering within the canyon are manifested in those areas where rock remains and leads to the formation of various forms, are evidence of long-term wind erosion. Over the centuries, these forms can change, collapse.

Linear erosion includes slope processes under the influence of anthropogenic activity and temporary water flows, which form furrows, ravines, ravines. Bilanivska embankment is characterized by the development of a system of ravines that descend to the river floodplain as a result of temporary water flows, during heavy rainfall, heavy rains, melting snow. They are small, but descend to the river. There are ravines as a result of concentrated storm currents, which are formed during heavy rainfall

Transport erosion occurs throughout the study area. The result of such erosion is narrow and wide paths, dirt and hard roads made of limestone and artificially covered and filled with rubble.

Zoogenic (pasture) erosion is quite common in Smotrich canyon. Grazing of cattle (cows), horses or small animals (goats, sheep) is carried out everywhere. The lack of special pastures, the inability to keep animals in a tethered way, leads to the fact that animals graze on the slopes of the canyon, in the coastal zone, in parks, and goats graze even on steep terraces.

During the last few years, the recreational service in the form of walks along the riverbed on the BRDM-2 vehicle has been causing a destructive impact on the ecosystem of the Smotrich River.

Summarizing the results of our research, we should point out other negative impacts from tourism activities using military equipment: gradual destruction of the river bottom, acceleration of erosion processes on rocky and silty slopes, increasing turbidity, changing water circulation in the river, changing gorge, near Novoplan the bridge actually washes its supports, introduces fuel and lubricants into the water and with the wheels of the car feces of large animals, the noise scares away birds that nest in the coastal zone of the river.

Key words: unfavorable geographical processes, ecological condition, Smotrich canyon, Smotrich river, erosion, pollution, sewage, landscape complexes, anthropogenization.