THE ANALYSIS OF THE CHANGE OF THE LANDSCAPE IN PLUNGE DISTRICT TROUGHTOUT XIX – XXI CENTURIES

Abstract

The research has aimed to quantify the changes of the landscape in Plungė district throughout XIX-XXI a. In order to carry out this investigation, 4 topographic maps were vectorized from following periods: 1826-1840, 1882-1910, 1937-1941 and 1985  topographic map. The results was compared to the data of the vectorized topographic map on the website Geoportal.lt.

Comparing the topographic plans from varying time periods, it was detected that the landscape in Plungė district had been constantly changing. The process of constructing the roads, strenghtening the streambeds, digging drainage channels and ponding the rivers in 1941 – 1985 had the most significant influence on the relevant landscape in Plungė. These processes had detrimental effect on the nature as well.

Compared the data of the vectorized topographic  map in 1985 to the map in 2021, it has shown that the rapid growth of the suburbs of Plungė had occurred. This is the main reason of the deforestation, destruction of the natural meadows and pastures in order to adjust the environment for the humans‘ activity.