Late Glacial – Holocene history of the Lake Kanozero in the southern Kola Peninsula, northwestern Russia

The sediment sequence from Lake Kanozero in the Kola Peninsula was studied for pollen, diatoms and lithology in order to investigate responses of the lake ecosystem to environmental changes. Our first results show that development of the Lake Kanozero was complex and included a Late Glacial lake phase and subsequent drainage, a history of fluvial input affected by nearby wetland expansion, and formation of the shallow lake. Organic matter began to accumulate in the lake at about 9100–9200 cal. kyr BP, which provides a minimum age for the deglaciation of the basin. This period is distinguished by the all reconstructed indicators. The climate is getting warmer and drier. The vegetation acquires a northern taiga type with Pinus and Betula forests spread. The diatom record suggests environmental changes that apparently related to the water-level lowering, as indicated by disappearance of Aulacoseira taxa and general increase in benthic species. This transitional horizon of very strong shallowing corresponds to the initial stage of the formation of the modern Lake Kanozero. The active movements of ancient people were possible at about the end of the Atlantic and the beginning of the Subboreal periods.

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