The recreational digression of intrazonal landscapes in the Lower Volga

The article analyzes the processes of degradation of landscapes of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain and Delta of Volga under the influence of recreational loads. It analyzes the state of natural complexes in 11 key areas of the Volgograd, Astrakhan regions and the Republic of Kalmykia. The data obtained in key areas was extended to the territory of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain and Delta of Volga, using the methods of space images decoding. The authors describe the diagnostic features of recreational digression of landscapes on space images and estimate the impact of fishing on fish fauna of the Lower Volga. It is concluded that natural complexes are disturbed profoundly as a result of repeated exceeding of the maximum allowable recreational loads. Recreation in the Lower Volga is the most important factor causing degradation of natural complexes. The authors mark the necessity of the soonest adoption of managerial decisions aimed at the regulation of recreational loads on the natural complexes of wetlands. It is important to change the unilateral recreation development in the region, focused almost exclusively on fishing tourism..