THE MALE OPILLIA MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF RELIEF

The Male Opillia morphological analysis of relief has been carried out on the basis of constructed morphological maps on the scale of 1:50 000 for the key part of the Zubra – Sukhodilka watershed. The morphological mapping lies in taking into consideration dotted, linear and areal elements of relief. The absolute heights of the study area are between 255 and 405 meters high (highland level – 330-405 m, lowland level (main valleys) – 255–290 m). The relative heights of the Zubra River Basin are between 50 and 100 m, Davydivka–Sukhodilka River Basin – between 70 and 130 m. Four main linear elements of relief are thalwegs, combes, convex and concave bends. The most common linear elements are thalwegs. They are the bottoms of shallow river valleys, arroyos, and largest gullies. The main direction of linear reach is diagonal (NW–SE). The convex bends delineate the highland surfaces and flats. They also separate gentle watershed slopes from steep valley slopes. The concave bends usually are the borders of greater river valleys. These elements of relief are entirely isolated, which demonstrates a discernible contact between slopes and bottoms. The combes are the least common linear elements. It is connected with the roundness and alignment of highland surfaces and a small number of sudden changes of directions of horizontals on the straightforward slopes. The dotted elements of relief are submitted as high points. Most high points are rounded. The areal elements of relief are submitted as highland (watershed) surfaces, flats, bottoms of valleys, and different shapes of slopes, according to the cross-section and plan. The highland surfaces are quite noticeable. Their absolute height is estimated between 350 and 380 m. The highland surfaces don’t occupy the upper parts of interfluves; they are divided into two parts. The shape of highland surfaces is strongly stretched along. The nature of morphology of the surface of relief is weakly curved and flat according to the cross-section, and weakly curved and wavy according to the longitude. The surfaces of the flats are subhorizontal elements of relief, which are an intermediate position in relief. These surfaces are bounded by one or two concave bends. The bottoms of the valleys of the Zubra are 190–770 m in width, the Davydivka – 190–770 m, the Sukhodilka – 140-820 m. The shape of the cross-section is predominantly flat, and only in shallow valleys it’s partly concave. The slopes occupy much of the study area so that they prevail over subhorizontal surfaces. The convex slopes prevail; the least common are concave slopes. Key words: morphological analysis of relief; morphological map; elements of relief; Male Opillia.