Lietuvos žemyninio jūros kranto paplūdimių technologinis tinkamumas rekreacijai

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Paplūdimiai; Poilsio zonos; Technologinis tinkamumas; Beaches; Lithuania; Recreation zones; Technological suitability.

ENScientific investigations of recreational resources are rather composite, broad and money-consuming. A detailed study of recreational resources must be based on the analysis (using variable investigation criteria) of binomial, psychonomial, ergonomic and economic aspects. The present work is designed as a representation of results of coastal recreational resource investigation (employing the technological criteria) in the ergonomic aspect. The physical suitability evaluation of mainland sea coast recreational beaches was based on technological criteria (physical landscape capacity to bear a recreational load). The main recreational function of beaches is to ensure a comfortable stay and basking in the sun. In view of this, the following physical indices have been analysed: • width (predetermines the recreational space); • inclination (predetermines the comfort in a lying position: large inclination makes lying uncomfortable due to steepness, whereas flat slopes frequently get saturated with groundwater); • mechanical composition of surface sediments (also predetermines the comfort in a lying position: fine- and medium-grained beaches are more comfortable than the ones composed of gravel and shingle). Pursuing the investigation purpose, detailed morphological investigations were carried out in all recreational zones of mainland sea coast: Šventoji, Palanga, Giruliai, II Melnragė and I Melnragė. Investigations revealed that the southern beaches of Šventoji are most suitable for recreation in the mainland coast. This is because of their great width (more sparsely distributed people can be contained), average slope angle (the groundwater does not reach the surface; the slopes are not steep and more suitable for lying). The composing finegrained sand provides equally good tanning conditions all over the beach).Relatively good recreational conditions also are characteristic of the beaches of northern Šventoji, Giruliai and Melnragė II. They are slightly narrower but their lithological composition and slope angle are sufficient for good rest. It should be pointed out that due to remediation (replenishment with imported sand) of the Melnragė II near-shore (in 2001 and 2005) even the near-lying coastal sectors became more stable. In comparison with 1995, when these sectors were intensively washed out, their technological suitability for recreation has considerably improved. Similar processes are taking place in the coastal sector Kontininkai–Rąžė stream. Due to sand accumulation from the southern abraded coastal sector (Rąžė stream–Birutė Mount), the morphological indices of the beach have considerably improved. In the last ten years, the technological suitability for recreation especially deteriorated in the sector Rąžė stream–Birutė Mount (see Table). Not long ago, in 1995, all morphological indices in the mentioned sector were ranked 5. Since then, the recreational space in this sector has been dramatically reducing as have been other recreational conditions (due to reduced amount and poorer quality of sand). However, the allure of Basanavičius street and Palanga pier makes this coastal sector very attractive to most holiday-makers. [From the publication]