Abstract:
The study of natural waters in the geologically and tectonically complex and intensively developed territory of the “Prielbrusye” National Park is becoming increasingly necessary and relevant. For
the first time, a comparative analysis of the content of a wide range of chemical components, including
trace elements (Al, As, Cu, F, Li, Mn, Mo, Zn) and major ions (Cl$^-$, SO$_4^{2-}$, Ca$^{2+}$, K$^+$, Mg$^{2+}$, Na$^+$), in the
surface waters of the high-altitude zone of the Central Caucasus from the Malka River basin to the Cherek
Balkarsky River basin based on the materials of 5-year observations by a team of authors was carried out.
The objects of the study were the main rivers of the region and their tributaries of glacial and underground origin, primarily on the territory of the National Park, including several popular carbon dioxide
sources. Sampling was carried out annually at 130 points, 80 of which were located on the territory of the
National Park. The samples were analyzed by modern physicochemical methods of atomic absorption
with electrothermal atomization and capillary ionophoresis. The obtained values of the average concentrations of each component were combined into ranked series and outliers determined by generally accepted
statistical methods were taken as anomalies. Against the general background of concentrations characteristic of the high-altitude zone, many water bodies in the National Park were distinguished by an increased
content of As, Cu, Li, Mo, Mg, Na, Cl. A number of natural complex hydrochemical anomalies and areas
of their distribution in the Southern and Northern Elbrus region were identified, most of them are associated with the Elbrus volcanic center.
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