Development of the Tuzla spit geosystem in the XIX-XXI Century
The Tuzla Spit is a large accumulative coastal form located in the south of the Kerch Strait connecting the Azov and Black Seas. Economic activity on the sea coasts of the Azov-Black Sea region has been actively developing in recent decades. The load on coastal geosystems is increasing, disturbing natural balance in coastal development processes. Simultaneously global and regional changes of natural conditions (first climatic and hydrological) are happening. Monitoring coastline dynamics is a necessary component for successful coastal zone management. The analysis of the Tuzla Spit coasts dynamics in this article is based on the study of modern and archival geographical maps and remote sensing data. It has been established that in the last century both growth and erosion of this accumulative form were observed. In general, its dynamics is determined by the ratio of the incoming sediment volume and the nature of hydrodynamic processes in the Kerch Strait. A significant part of the changes in the Tuzla Spit in the 21 century was initiated by anthropogenic impact. In 2003, part of the coastline of the Tuzla Spit was stabilized technologically. In 2016-2020 road and railway bridges across the Kerch Strait were built, which run along the dam of the Tuzla Spit and Tuzla Island. At present, the Tuzla Spit is developing as a natural and technological geosystem.