Current State and Dynamics of the Western Crimean Bay-Bars

Yu. N. Goryachkin1, 2

1 Marine Hydrophysical Institute of RAS, Sevastopol, Russia

2 Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of RAS, Moscow, Russia

e-mail: yngor@mhi-ras.ru

Abstract

The bay-bars of Crimean salt lakes are unique natural formations of significant recreational value. Since 2015, the bay-bars have undergone intensive development, with construction projects being planned. This paper analyses and characterizes the current state of the bay-bars in Western Crimea and assesses their dynamics over the past 150 years, based on long-term field monitoring data from Marine Hydrophysical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, satellite imagery, cartographic materials, official reports, and published literature. It was revealed that the condition and dynamics of these bay-bars are determined by the aggregate effect of natural and anthropogenic factors. Key natural processes include storm-induced sediment redistribution along the bay-bar and adjacent coastline, sediment transport from the coastal slope into the lakes across the bay-bars, and aeolian processes. Nevertheless, human activity constitutes the dominant forcing factor. Sand mining was widespread across nearly all bay-bar sites, with industrial-scale extraction occurring at Lakes Sasyk-Sivash, Donuzlav, Sakskoye and Kyzyl-Yar. Consequently, the sediment volume of the bay-bars has been severely diminished, with a reduction in both width and height. This has, in turn, increased the vulnerability of structures to storm damage. Additional anthropogenic pressures include artificial breaching of the bars, extensive construction, removal of dunes and vegetation and beach grading. Collectively, these interventions have degraded the natural landscape and led to loss of the lakes' therapeutic qualities. The intensive development, which entails the physical destruction and transformation of the bay-bars, poses a significant threat to the survival of these unique ecosystems and the vital recreational and ecological services they provide. An urgent shift in management strategy, prioritizing conservation and restoration of the bay-bars, is therefore imperative.

Keywords

Black Sea, Western Crimea, bay-bar, coastal dynamic, anthropogenic impact, coastal area

Acknowledgments

The work with remote sensing data and the assessment of the current state of accumulative forms were supported by Russian Science Foundation grant no. 25-17-00104, https://rscf.ru/project/25-17-00104/, and the analysis of the results of long-term monitoring field work and archival reports of the Marine Hydrophysical Institute was carried out as part of the state assignment of MHI RAS no. FNNN-2024-0016.

For citation

Goryachkin, Yu.N., 2025. Current State and Dynamics of the Western Crimean Bay-Bars. Ecological Safety of Coastal and Shelf Zones of Sea, (4), pp. 6–32.

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