Abstracts
Abstract
The Nemunas River, one of the largest rivers of the Baltic region, is characterised by a generally straight valley. In the middle part of its course the Great Nemunas Loops are distinct features that occupy an area of 320 km2 near the Birštonas Resort. The Nemunas valley here is 1.5‑5 km wide and 45‑80 m deep. The loops are cut into a glaciolacustrine plain confined between glacial and deltaic relief complexes and formed during the two last phases of glaciation. The origin of the entrenched loops, as large as 6‑10 km, can not be explained in conventional terms of river meandering. The activity of underlying tectonic structures is the major factor, the Great Nemunas Loops being confined to the Birštonas tectonic depression. Despite their small magnitudes the neotectonic structures within the depression significantly influenced the glacial and meltwater sedimentation (hence, the topography) that controlled the geometry of the Nemunas valley. The initial sinuosity of the valley was only a little enhanced by later lateral erosion. Fault activity is indicated by numerous mineral water springs and straight channel segments. Only a few sites of similar mineral water discharge are documented in Lithuania, suggesting the specific structural setting of the Great Nemunas Loops. Inspection of drill cores revealed the inheritance of the Nemunas valley from underlying paleovalleys of Eemian and Holsteinian Interglacials, implying persistence of the controlling factors.
Résumé
Le fleuve Nemunas, un des plus grands fleuves de la région baltique, est caractérisé par une vallée généralement rectiligne. À la mi-course du Nemunas, les Grandes Boucles occupent un territoire de 320 km2 dans la zone de villégiature de Birštonas. Ces méandres, d’une largeur de 6 à 10 km, entaillent une plaine glaciolacustre confinée entre des complexes glaciaires et deltaïques formés au cours des deux dernières phases de déglaciation. À cet endroit, la vallée du Nemunas a une largeur de 1,5 à 5,0 km et une profondeur de 45 à 80 m. L’origine de ces boucles profondes ne peut être imputée aux processus habituels de formation de méandres. L’activité des structures tectoniques sous-jacentes est le principal facteur à l’origine de leur formation. Les Grandes Boucles du Nemunas sont confinées à la dépression tectonique de Birštonas, sur laquelle se sont formées des structures néotectoniques de moindre ampleur. Ces dernières ont néanmoins eu une influence significative sur la sédimentation glaciaire et celle associée aux eaux de fonte (et sur la topographie) qui a influencé la géométrie de la vallée du Nemunas. La sinuosité initiale de la vallée n’a été que peu accentuée par l’érosion latérale ultérieure. L’activité des zones de faille est décelée par la présence de nombreuses sources d’eau minérale et le redressement de certains segments du fleuve. Seuls quelques sites ayant des sources minérales similaires sont connus en Lituanie, ce qui met en relief la singularité structurale des Grandes Boucles du Nemunas. L’examen des carottes de forage révèle la filiation entre la vallée actuelle du Nemunas et les paléovallées interglaciaires de l’Eemien et du Holsteinien sur lesquelles elle repose.
Appendices
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