Lake Drūkšiai
In the immediate vicinity is the Ignalina nuclear power plant.
The lake Drūkšiai is located on the border between Lithuania and Belarus. It is the largest lake in Lithuania and is located near the town of Visaginas in Utena County. The lake was used by the nearby Ignalina nuclear power plant as cooling water reservoir.
General
The lake has an area of 49 km ² and includes seven islands. The nearby nuclear power plant is connected to two channels of the lake. In the lake and near the coast there are over 500 different species of higher vascular plants, as well as 95 species of aquatic plants and semiaquatic plants. Many of these plants are rare or protected. In addition, the lake is a habitat for many fish and crabs that occur very rarely in the Baltic Sea region. About 250 plankton species and 25 species of fish are housed in the lake. Furthermore, living in the vicinity of the lake, some protected species of mammals.
The lake was threatened by the discharge of waste water from the Ignalina nuclear power plant, which polluted the lake. In addition, the introduced warm cooling water led to an increasing eutrophication of the lake. After the Ignalina nuclear power plant has been shut down in 2009, the entire ecosystem of the lake, however, may change again. The follow-up of Visaginas nuclear power plant will either like the Ignalina nuclear power plant refer the cooling water through the lake or get a cooling tower. It has taken no decision. There were explained all the possibilities for feasible. The new nuclear power plant will be exactly like the Ignalina nuclear power plant to use only 20% of the surface water of the lake for cooling and maximum warm to 26 ° C.
Since the beginning of the 20th century data on the flora, fauna and hydrology of the lake and its surroundings are recorded. Six research institutes from Lithuania and other research institutions from some other countries, examine some of the data Seeareals. This research led to publications and monographs.