NEW INFORMATION ON THE KEL-KETCHKHEN KARST HOLE IN THE CENTRAL CAUCASUS
The article provides new information about the grand (area - 46000 м2, depth - 177 м) Kel-Ketchkhen karst hole, which is part of a group of karst lakes in the Central Caucasus under the general name «Blue Lakes». As a result of the descent into the hole, which was carried out for the first time for scientific purposes, a general picture of the landscape cover of its bottom has been compiled. The characteristics of the relief and vegetation are given in the article. The relief is highly dissected, as it is formed by fragmentary material falling from the sheer walls of the hole. With the exception of a few places of fresh deposition of such material, the bottom of the hole is covered with typical vegetation, merging with the surrounding forest landscape. A hydrological and hydrobiological description of a small reservoir at the bottom of the hole, preserved as a degenerate remnant of a former lake, has been made. The true depth (11.8 m) was determined and a profile diagram of its basin was compiled. An underground water flow hidden from the eyes has been discovered in it, indicating a continuing hydrological connection between the Kel-Ketchkhen hole and the unified karst drainage system of the Blue Lakes complex. The biodiversity found in the reservoir characterizes it as a full-fledged ecosystem. Given the direct connection between the origin of the Kel-Ketchkhen hole and its accompanying lakes with a forest landscape, the importance of preserving the forest cover of the territory to maintain the natural state of these unique natural monuments and recreation objects is underlined. Attention is drawn to the need to take into account the dangers emanating from the karst landscape when they are used for recreational purposes. Attention is drawn to the dangers inherent in karst territories and the need to take them into account when Kel-Ketchkhen is involved in the recreational sphere. The relevance of the study is connected with the significance of Kel-Ketchkhen in the context of the problems of karstology in the region and the prospect of its tourist and recreational use.