Satellite shows how Kakhovka Reservoir in Kherson region has changed

The territory of the former Kakhovka Reservoir is gradually returning to its natural state, now overgrown with grasses, shrubs, and in some places trees. Water has been preserved mainly in the Dnipro riverbed itself.

This was discussed in a video by Radio Liberty's Pryazovia News.

The journalists showed satellite images of the destroyed reservoir, which clearly show that most of its bottom is no longer covered with water, but is green.

Screenshot: Radio Liberty

According to Serhiy Gapon, head of the Geographic Information Systems Laboratory at the World Data Center for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development, only a few flooded areas have survived on the territory of the former reservoir. They are located near the main channel of the Dnipro River and have a shallow depth, sometimes up to several hundred meters.

According to the scientist, water is mostly visible only within the Dnipro riverbed itself. There are minor floods, but most of the bottom is already dry.

Screenshot: Radio Liberty

Satellite images analyzed by experts show that vegetation is actively spreading on the dried bottom. These areas are dominated by grasses and shrubs, but in some places trees are already appearing. If everything continues to develop without human intervention, this area will eventually recover naturally.

There will be successions - processes when shrubs and later trees will replace grasses. In a few decades, a real forest can form here," explained Serhii Hapon.

The scientist suggests that in the future, more than 80% of the former bottom of the Kakhovka Reservoir will be covered with forest cover.

Screenshot: Radio Liberty

This will be possible if there is no large-scale human intervention or repeated flooding. Thus, the area will once again look like it did before the reservoir was created in the 1950s.

Almost two years after the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP, residents of the Kherson community are still facing the consequences of this environmental disaster. According to the survey, a quarter of Kherson residents are still concerned about the situation after the dam's destruction. Regarding the newly formed territories on the site of the former reservoir, most residents support the ideas of creating a nature park or reserve (53%) and developing infrastructure for water intake and irrigation (61%).

Recently, a documentary about the consequences of the flooding of the Kherson region caused by the occupiers' dam blowing up was also screened. The film tells the story of the heroism of rescuers and volunteers who helped people and contributed to the restoration of the region.

Анна Бальчінос