ИСТИНА

• At the young coastal plains, the formation of microtopography is mainly governed by aeolian processes (accumulation due to the mechanical retardation by shrubs as well as due to the wind erosion of soil beyond the shrubs). Microhighs are less saline than microlows. • At the earliest stages of subaerial development of the coastal plains, the differentiation of soil cover by its salinity occurs in the upper 50-70 cm with a maximal pronunciation at the upper 5 cm. The spatial variation of soil salinity is very similar at the studied sites despite the differences in vegetation, climate and microtopography between them. • As a hypothesis, we suggest that the primary trigger of differentiation at the fine-textured deposits is the formation of contraction cracks which serve as tunnels to leaching of salts. The subsequent evolution of the landscape “fastens” and strengthens the spatial heterogeneity formed in the previous stages.