Characteristic features of rupestrian landscape soils of Karelian White Sea coast

The soil cover of Karelia is motley and patchy because of the broken relief and frequent alternation of the parent rock species. Both the composition of soils and their ratios differ in various districts of the republic. Rocky landscapes of the White Sea coast offer very specific conditions for soil formation. The soils formed in these landscapes are of particular interest. To study the territory in a comprehensive way soil sections were made across the most typical landscape elements, and the soil cover was described in detail (the soil morphological structure was discribed, soil samples were collected for chemical analysis). The surveys have demonstrated the prevalence of shallow soils - primitive, podburs, leptic podzols in the soil cover. They develop on a poor bedrock (granite gneiss and gneiss granite), therefore, their fertility is rather low. Developed over Quaternary deposits Podzols deposits typical for Karelia are rather uncommon for the landscapes in question. Regionally unique salt marsh soils occur along the White Sea coast. They deserve much attention due to their high biological diversity. Coastal coenosis is very productive, which is especially valuable in northern conditions for survival of many plant species. Salt marshes are also noteworthy for their capacity to massively accumulate pollutants in industrial regions. Marsh soils in the study area are not yet polluted and should,therefore, be protected.