Home – Home – Jornals – Geography and Natural Resources 2025 number 3

The article describes a strategy for quantitative analysis of mono- and polysystem organization of multi-level geospaces with the construction of a series of empirical models of inter-component and inter-complex connections. As a methodological basis, a provision on structural levels of natural-territorial organization is proposed, based on a conceptual cybernetic model of a natural complex as a hierarchical control system. Using the model, a system of conjugation of different-level characteristics of natural components with a taxonomic rank of geographic spaces (from a geographic sector and natural zone to a landscape facies and biogeocenosis) was constructed. Based on the spatio-temporal relationships of inter-component and inter-complex connections, a hypothetical cycle of the trajectory of changes in the states of geospaces in their spontaneous development and under anthropogenic disturbances is described. The assessment of the dynamics of geospaces was carried out through operations with their ecological niches in the zones of their contact and intersection, i.e. in trigger zones. The stability of different-order geospaces to external disturbances is proposed to be expressed by measures of significance of their representation of the entire variety of input environmental factors. These measures serve as generalized criteria of homeostatic reserves of natural complexes. They are calculated on the basis of matrices and digraphs of their inclusion relations for a particular set of system-forming factors using the Shannon information function. Using the example of the southern taiga of the Volga basin, an example of calculating one of these measures in relation to a change in the average July temperature is given.

The relevance and necessity of a global approach to natural disaster risk assessment are determined. In recent years, it has become increasingly obvious to society, scientists, management structures, businesses, and politicians. It has been shown that various dangerous natural (earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods) and anthropogenic (industrial accidents, pollution and degradation of landscapes, depletion of natural resources) processes constantly threaten millions of people around the world. These processes differ greatly from each other, but the assets exposed to their impact are basically the same: population, economy, territories, ecosystems, infrastructure, and the environment. It is concluded that the results of the impact on them should be considered as a dynamic process, examples of which are rapid urbanization, rural depopulation, changes associated with the actual evolution of settlements themselves, declining quality of life, etc. In this aspect, the main task for researchers is to find innovative, as simple and effective methods as possible for collecting, organizing, storing and transmitting data on such impacts, taking into account their inherent spatio-temporal dynamics. The objective of this article is to analyze the challenges of implementing an impact model on a global scale, suitable for various natural hazards within a dynamic and scalable framework, based on the method of estimating the global risk index for countries of the world. A roadmap is being developed for the use of the global impact model that will continually evolve over time through input and updating of data, including consideration of uncertainties. It is established that such a model will form the basis for a global assessment of vulnerability and risks from natural disasters, providing reliable standardized information on assets and entities exposed to various natural hazards.

The article is concerned with the development of an institutional approach in recreational-geographical research. Its essence lies in the study of patterns of associated territorial and institutional development of tourism and recreational activities, which form the most important institution of our time - a system of specific norms and rules, as well as specialized organizations intended to meet people’s needs for rest and recovery, streamline and regulate the tourism industry, as well as to use natural and cultural values in recreational aims. Within the framework of recreational-geographical research, the institution under study is considered as an object of geographical research that has relatively stable ties with specific territories and influences their nature, society and economy. To develop a logical research scheme, a methodological approach was used based on identifying common elements and points of connection between the models proposed by recreational geography and sociology. It is based on systemic, institutional and spatial concepts of tourism and recreational activities. The core of the scheme is tourist territories characterized by the originality of the institutional environment. The associated territorial institutional and recreational systems are an analytical tool. It makes it possible to organize territorial, institutional, spatial and other types of interactions that arise as a result of tourist exchange, institutional adaptation of the territory to tourism and recreation, contributing to the formation of an integral tourism and recreational space. It is shown that institutional conditions formed at various hierarchical levels determine both opportunities and limitations for the development of tourist territories, act as a significant factor in the territorial organization of tourism and recreational activities. An integral part of the recreational environment is the institutional environment, i.e. a territorially confined set of institutional conditions, a sphere of interaction of various institutions. Institutions operating within the territory can interact regarding the organization of recreation and tourism and form territorial institutional systems. An example of the application of the institutional approach is the Baikal natural territory, which is characterized by a complex combination of current environmental restrictions and, at the same time, a special attractiveness for tourists. Under such conditions, the lake shore has become an institutional epicenter of ecological and economic problems and is of particular interest as an object of institutional recreational-geographical research.

The article presents the results of the study of the state of landscapes in the territory adjacent to the development site of the Sorsk mining and processing plant (SMPP), which is a large mining and processing enterprise. A comprehensive analysis of the changes in natural landscapes made it possible to identify three zones of the plant’s impact: direct, indirect and background influence. Criteria for assessing the sensitivity of soils and vegetation to dust and chemical pollution were developed based on the methodology of landscape planning of a territory. An integral assessment was carried out and sensitivity maps of landscape units within the impact zones of the SMPP were compiled. Landscape units of a low sensitivity degree are mainly represented by modified natural and anthropogenic complexes, i.e. power transmission line clearings, agricultural lands and residential areas, as well as some natural complexes occupying the upper forested parts of slopes and gently sloping surfaces of small river valleys with steppe grass meadows. Landscape units of a medium sensitivity level include gently sloping surfaces of small river valleys with sparse forests and grass-forb meadows, and slopes with mixed forests and forb-grass meadows. Highly sensitive landscape units are levelled bottoms of small river valleys and lake basins with birch forests and forb-sedge meadows, steep slopes with meadow rocky steppes, flat tops and saddles with shrubs and sparse forests, and slopes with low-grass alpine meadows. The analysis of the distribution of landscape units showed the prevalence of medium-sensitive units in the zone of indirect and background impact, which cover more than half of the area of the zones. The conducted studies provide grounds for drawing a conclusion about minor changes in the natural landscapes within the territory of influence of the SMPP; the results can be used to adjust the monitoring observation network.

The article presents an assessment of the sulfate content and runoff in the Amur River water near Khabarovsk in high-water years. It shows differences in the content and runoff values depending on the center of flood formation on the basis of Roshydromet data for 1951-1985. Observations were carried out in 2013, and 2019-2021. The study revealed spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of sulfate content across the Amur River width due to large differences in the chemical composition of the waters of its main tributaries (the Zeya, Bureya, Sungari and Ussuri Rivers) and their contribution at all stages of flood formation. The highest sulfate content was observed in the middle of the river, less frequently in the right-bank part of the Amur due to the influence of the Sungari River, which drains the most developed and densely populated part of the basin; the lowest sulfate content was recorded in the left-bank part of the Amur due to the influence of the regulated Zeya and Bureya Rivers. It was found that at the recession of floods, the sulfate ion content reached its highest values as a result of the inputs from flooded agricultural lands and urbanized areas of China. At the flood peak, the maximum sulfate runoff was observed in 2013 and 2020 (29,5 and 30,4 thousand tons/day, respectively), significantly lower values were noted in 2019 and 2021 (20,3 and 13,9 thousand tons/day, respectively). The maximum sulfate runoff for the entire period of hydrochemical monitoring on the Amur River near Khabarovsk was observed during the historical flood in 2013 (1800 thousand tons). The second largest runoff (1543 thousand tons) was observed during a less prolonged flood in 2020.

The article discusses published materials containing hypotheses about the history of the origin and development of ancient valleys within a relatively small area along the western edge of the Baikal depression. The results of geological surveys of various scales, carried out within the study area, are used. A comprehensive analysis of the materials reviewed has shown the inconsistency of the hypothesis about the young age of the ancient pra-Manzur valley and the catastrophic nature of this lake water drainage channel. The results of the author’s special narrow-focused studies have clearly established the existence of an ancient channel for the drainage of Baikal waters and indicated the location of the drainage cut. The study of the morphometric features of the pebble material, and structural and textural features of the sediments has shown that the Manzur alluvium was formed by a river comparable in size and hydrodynamic characteristics to the flow of the Angara River. The studies of the Manzur deposits conducted in recent years and their new multiple dating have confidently confirmed the time range of the functioning of the pra-Manzurka from the Early Pliocene up to and including the Early Pleistocene. The restructuring of the river network in the Central Baikal region that began in the first half of the Early Pleistocene led to the cessation of the pra-Manzur flow direction and the formation of new river systems within the Onot watershed: the Manzurka, Lena, Buguldeika, Goloustnaya and Anga. It has been established that the Buguldeika River formed its channel approximately 450 thousand years ago. According to biological data, the modern diatom community is very young; it began to form at the same time. The temporal proximity of this event in the biological history of the lake with the restructuring of the ancient river network is not accidental. Biological data confirm significant changes in the paleogeographic environment at this time. It is assumed that the formation of the paleodelta to the south of the modern delta of the Goloustnaya River may be associated with the paleo-Goloustnaya River, which could have begun to function immediately after the rupture of the pra-Manzur drainage channel and ceased its activity at the beginning of the Tyi phase of orogenesis.

The article presents the results of the research carried out on the basis of field and desktop analytical studies conducted in 2024 on the southwestern shore of Lake Baikal. Samples of snow, surface waters, soil and vegetation were collected at key sites. Geochemical parameters of the main components of the natural environment near the settling tanks, industrial site of the BPPM, and coastal settlements with a high recreational load are presented. It was found that the content of heavy and alkaline earth metals, SO₄^2- , NO₃^- , NH₄⁺ , PO₄^3- ions in snow near the village of Kultuk and the towns of Slyudyanka and Baikalsk exceeded background values; concentrations of NH₄⁺ , Pb and petroleum products in snow water exceeded the MAC and APC. The main sources of pollution are construction and road enterprises, thermal power plants, boiler houses, railway and automobile transport, waste landfills, and settling tanks. The sources of surface water pollution with phosphates and ammonium are housing and communal service facilities. Soil pollution with heavy metals has been detected in the recreational and industrial zones located on the lake shore. Regional features of correlations between the concentrations of macro- and microelements in soils and the hydrogen index, organic carbon content, and physical clay fraction have been identified, which indicates the presence of biogeochemical barriers where they accumulate in concentrations above the MAC. The biological absorption coefficient showed a dependence on acid-alkali conditions. The coefficient of migration of microelements into surface waters from soils is low. However, in the coastal waters of the lake, concentrations of heavy metals exceed the MAC for fishery waters due to their large amount in soils. Macroelements have a higher migration intensity. It has been established that, the concentrations of fluorides, phosphates, ammonium, nitrate and nitrite nitrogen exceed the background levels in the waters of the settling tank, the estuary zones of the Khara-Murino, Kharlakta, Utulik rivers and in the coastal waters of the lake near Baikalsk, Utulik, Slyudyanka and Kultuk.

The article presents the results of studies on the elemental chemical composition of cryozems in the Bovanenkovo oil and gas condensate field (Yamal Peninsula). Due to the intensive development of hydrocarbon deposits the anthropogenic load on natural ecosystems of the cryolithozone is growing in the conditions of a changing climate, which can lead to a change in the geochemical background and migration of chemical elements in the soil and vegetation cover. The main physical and chemical properties and granulometric composition of the soils were determined. The total content of macro- and microelements K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, As, Pb, Th, U was assessed and general patterns of their profile distribution were identified. The average values of element concentration clarkes (CC) were calculated. It was established that in the soil samples of organic horizons CC > 1 for Br, Cd, Ag, As, Se, Zn, Pb, Mn, Fe, Ni, Y, Zr, Sb, Cr, V, Cu, Ge. In mineral horizons, CC > 1 for Ag, Br, As, Cd, Zr, Mo, Sb. A comparative analysis of the element content of in the soils of the Bovanenkovo OGCF with the regional geochemical background was carried out. It was revealed that the organic horizons of cryozems differed from the mineral ones by a higher total content of macro- and microelements. Zones of macro- and micronutrient accumulation in suprapermafrost soil horizons have been identified. The results of the study showed that the content and pattern of the profile distribution of elements in soils were due to the granulometric composition of soil-forming rocks, as well as accumulation at the biogeochemical, oxidative and permafrost barriers. A close positive correlation (r = 0.8 - 0.9) was revealed in the mineral horizons of soils between: concentrations of Mn, Fe, Zn, Rb, Y, Nb, Sn, Sb, Pb, Th and the content of physical clay; Ca, Ni, Cu, Br, Sr, Mo, Cd and organic matter; Ni, Cu, Nb, Sn, Sb, As, Pb, Th, Cd, Mn, Zn, Rb, Y, Pb and the total iron content.

The article analyzes literary, archive and our own research data on peat accumulation during the Holocene. The dynamics of the process at the present stage is considered. It is shown that the process of paludification in the territory of Gorny Altai has a clear dependence on the relief dissection. It is determined that within this territory there are two large sublatitudinal zones of areal development of swamps, which are characterized by weak and medium relief dissection. In the northern part of Gorny Altai, this zone of areal development of swamps covers low-mountain and mid-mountain flattened spaces; in the southern part, it is recorded within the high-mountain uplands, tablelands, plateaus and intermountain basins. It is established that the trigger factors of paludification in the study area are represented by meteorological, hydrological and hydrogeological parameters. The features of spatial (zonal) dynamics of the peat growth rate in general for the Holocene, as well as the patterns of their change by the Holocene periods have been revealed. Peat formation rates in each zone of Gorny Altai have been determined for the first time. In the low-mountain zone, extreme values of the peat formation rate (0,1-0,7 mm/year) refer to the Middle and Late Holocene. In the mid-mountain zone, extreme values of the peat formation rate date back to the Early and Middle Holocene (0,03-1,0 mm/year), while in the high-mountain zone - to the Late Holocene with a wide range of values (from 0,05 to 2,3 mm/year). The carbon balance study of swamps in the north-eastern part of Gorny Altai has provided evidence of progressive peat formation process in the modern period.

The Geysernaya River valley in Kamchatka, known for its unique hydrothermal manifestations, has experienced activation of slope processes, mainly landslide ones, in recent decades. Three large landslides that occurred in 1981, 2007 and 2014 led to significant changes in the morphology of the valley and the activity mode of some geysers. The article presents an assessment of the susceptibility of the Geysernaya River valley to landslide development, performed using the landslide susceptibility modeling (LSM) approach based on the RandomForest algorithm. Unlike traditional landslide hazard assessment methods, LSM analyzes spatial relationships between past landslide occurrences and a range of natural factors. The model incorporated geological, geomorphological and hydro-geomorphological characteristics, as well as surface thermal anomalies derived from Landsat-8 data for 2017-2021, minus topographic effects (i.e. only as a consequence of the earth’s heat flow, albedo and weather differences). The modeling results indicate that the most landslide-hazardous areas are concentrated along the left side of the Geysernaya River valley within fault zones (mainly along the circular fault of the caldera edge), elevated thermal anomaly zones ( ΔT > 5 ° C) and at the contact between weakly lithified volcanogenic-lacustrine deposits (tuff sandstones, tuff gravelites and tuff siltstones) and more resistant extrusive rocks (dacites and liparites). Also, high landslide probabilities are noted on the right side of the valley in the near-edge parts of the Krugloe Plateau and the Geysernaya Extrusion. At the same time, the Shumnaya River valley segment, characterized by similar geological and geomorphological conditions, but lacking active gas-hydrothermal vents, exhibits significantly lower landslide susceptibility values. Here, the near-edge parts of the Shirokoe and Krugloe Plateaus within the considered valley area are most susceptible to landslide processes. Heterogeneous lithology is one of the most essential predictors of landslide susceptibility for both valleys.

The article examines the uncertainty of the concept of “agglomeration” in regional and federal documents of strategic and territorial planning, as well as in scientific literature. As a result of the analysis of documents of various levels, as well as scientific works by reputable authors in this field, a comparative table has been formed, allowing us to trace the dynamics of the term of “urban agglomeration”. Most of the given definitions indicate that an agglomeration requires a “core”, satellites and production, economic, social and transport links between them. Practical approaches to identifying the boundaries of the Irkutsk agglomeration, their advantages and disadvantages are analyzed. Based on the analysis of the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads”, the Strategy for Socio-Economic Development of Irkutsk Oblast until 2036 and the main document of territorial planning of the region, i.e. the Scheme of Territorial Planning of Irkutsk Oblast, two approaches to identifying the boundaries of the agglomeration, reflecting the differences in its delimitation, are substantiated, namely: transport and territorial-administrative. The approach of the national project is based on the development of transport infrastructure, while the approach reflected in the Strategy and the Scheme of Territorial Planning takes into account the principle of territorial indivisibility and time intervals of accessibility to the core of the Irkutsk agglomeration - the city of Irkutsk. The article considers the provisions of the draft federal law “On Urban Agglomerations”, which for the first time provides an approved list of criteria for identifying an agglomeration, such as the presence of a center, the average density of territorial entities that make up the agglomeration, and transport accessibility of peripheral territories in relation to the core. In addition to defining the criteria, this project will make it possible to consolidate the terminological base for agglomerations, establish legal and organizational conditions for their functioning, and determine the powers of regional and municipal authorities in managing agglomeration processes.

The present-day coverage of ideas about geographical research of sacred loci of the region shows key elements of cultural and spiritual identity of local communities, and reveals their importance for preserving traditional values and natural-ecological balance. The article considers the characteristic features of the formation of ancestral sanctuaries of the ethnoterritorial group of the Buryat ethnos - the Alar Buryats in the context of the cultural landscape. The actual basis was the authors’ field research, which was carried out in the village of Gotol and the municipal unit “Nygda” of the Alarsky district of Irkutsk oblast, as well as statistical data and archival materials. The objects of the study were the shamanic sacred places “Negdeyn Ybged, Tөөdeyd” and “Gotoloy Ybged” near the settlements of Nygda and Gotol. These places are associated with the clan groups of the Khongodor and Bulagat tribes and serve as spiritual centers where ancestor worship rituals are held. Using the methods of cultural geography, the features of sacred places, their connections and dynamics in the ethnocultural and natural landscape were identified. The role of sacred places in preserving the traditions of family and clan groups of the Buryats was analyzed, including the state of natural conditions and the economic specificity of the areas of development. All this made it possible to determine the features of the sacred landscape and the distribution of settlement sites taking into account political and social changes, showing the historical and geographical continuity and stability of self-identification of ethnic communities. Based on the historical and geographical approach, data on the specificity of sacred places associated with settlement areas are summarized. Field observation materials confirm the importance of cultural traditions of local groups, their features and role in settling the space. Sacred places not only preserve historical memory, but are also markers of ethnic self-identification. The results show that sacred landscapes are threatened by deforestation, disturbance of the soil cover and insufficient coordination between the authorities and local communities. The areas of sacred places that developed in the 17^th - early 19^th centuries demonstrate sustainability in relation to modern economic development of the Alarsky district of Irkutsk oblast.

The article considers the basic concepts and presents a theoretical overview of approaches and methods for socially oriented monitoring of sustainability of socio-ecological territorial systems of the North and the Arctic. It presents the results of practical application of approaches to data collection and analysis for assessing sustainability of socio-ecological territorial systems in the context of new industrial development using the example of the northernmost municipality of Irkutsk oblast - the Katangsky district, the only one in the region that belongs to the territories of the Far North. Industrial development of natural resources of this region was long held back by its remoteness from developed centers and the lack of infrastructure. After the construction of the Eastern Siberia - Pacific Ocean oil pipeline, active industrial development of hydrocarbon deposits discovered in Soviet times and the search for new ones began. As a result of geological exploration, the reserves of raw materials have increased, and the immediate prospects for the development of the region are inextricably linked with the industrial development of natural resources. The conducted socially oriented monitoring of sustainability of socio-ecological territorial systems using multi-scale, interdisciplinary and problem-strategic approaches made it possible to identify the problems of creating sustainable socio-ecological territorial systems of the Katangsky district and to determine the ways of their solution. Industrial development of natural resources of the territory has a significant impact on all components of the socio-ecological system of the territory under study. It has been revealed that a comprehensive solution is required for problems in all three spheres of life of the population of the region: natural-ecological, socio-economic and socio-cultural, as well as administrative-managerial. The documents of strategic development of the Katangsky district contain a number of tasks to increase the sustainability of socio-ecological territorial systems, at the same time, the results of sociological studies to identify the opinion of the local population made it possible to formulate these tasks to a fuller extent.

The article presents a method for calculating the vectors of geological mass distribution using the “Relief Plasticity” technology and the author’s method for determining the potential of lithodynamic flows, structures and systems. The lengths of flow-vectors and their deflection angles are taken as a basis. All results have been converted to the metric system. The method was tested on two lithodynamic structures located in India (the Brahmaputra River valley) and Russia (the Crimean Mountains). Calculations have shown that the vectors of the geological masses of both structures are distributed in such a way that their difference tends to zero, and therefore to equilibrium. Thus, in the lithosphere, the processes of mass equilibration occur simultaneously in both vertical and horizontal directions. In addition, it has been found that a landslide body separated from the main mass of the mountain structure threatens the overall equilibrium state of the entire structure, which can be restored by the appearance of a new landslide. This work can be used both at the initial stage of understanding equilibrium in the horizontal plane and in practice. A number of examples given in the article and obtained outside the scope of the study suggested that, along with the electromagnetic field and gravity, the principle of dynamic equilibrium is present everywhere in nature, in this case, in the lithosphere. This is a natural state of matter. The use of this knowledge by a person will allow taking into account and controlling not only the processes in the lithosphere, but also economic activities: in territorial planning, construction, recreation, emergency prevention, etc.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Academician Viktor Borisovich Sochava developed a theory of geographical systems, which marked the beginning of a new direction in the Earth science. Over the past 60 years, the scientific worldview has significantly changed. These changes have also affected the theory of geosystems. The authors have studied the development paths of the theory of geosystems. It has been concluded that the main provisions of this theory are conceptually relevant today. It is shown that a number of ways of development of the theory of geosystems were laid down by V.B. Sochava at the very beginning of this theory development. The creation of a unified theory about the hierarchical structural and functional basis of natural systems is practically recognized, which makes it possible to organize environmental management in such a way that it is adapted to the natural territory organization as a unified, sustainable functioning system. The article considers some directions of further development of the theory of geosystems, such as the functioning of natural complexes in the presence of weak connections between components and the application of the graph theory to study internal and external interactions. An effective method for studying geosystems is fractal analysis, which enables to relate the density and distribution of natural and anthropogenic components and elements with their stability and self-regulation.

According to forecasts, the deployment of the Tactile Internet based on the sixth-generation telecommunication network will begin in the next decade. To achieve this, it is necessary to ensure ultrareliable and minimal-latency transmission of not only traditional data (text, audio, video), but also tactile sensations (touch, pressure, vibration, roughness, etc.). For this purpose, an architecture consisting of three domains has already been developed, and devices for reading tactile sensations, converting them into digital recording and remote playback are being improved. However, there is not a single work in the world science on the possible socio-geographical consequences of the tactile communication deployment. This study defines the contours of future directions of the geographical study of the Tactile Internet based on a comparison of the methodological capabilities of human geography with the specifics of tactile data transmission over a telecommunication network. Using the author’s semantic search algorithm, which is an iterative machine learning system, the necessary publications have been selected in domestic and international bibliographic databases. Their analysis made it possible to identify the key parameters of the Tactile Internet and assess the level of geographical knowledge of the problem under consideration. It has been established that the lack of geographical research on tactile communication can be compensated to some extent by the human-geographical study of the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and 5G/6G wireless communications. Five promising scientific directions have been identified, which are conventionally called remotely delayed, spatial domain, regional streaming, boundary computing and territorial adaptive. The stages of development for each direction are highlighted and priority research questions are formulated. Possible fields of application of the results of the geographical study of the Tactile Internet are given.

The fractured karstified rocks covering more than 90 % of the territory of the Zagros Range (Iran), which makes well-developed karst aquifers the main hydrogeological characteristic of the range, are investigated. It is shown that the increased demand for freshwater has led to the need for new studies of karst waters in the Zagros region. It is revealed that the presence of surface and subsurface karst features and strong discharge from springs feeding the alluvial aquifer make the Iranian Zagros Range a unique hydrogeological region. It is established that the primary porosity of limestone and intensive fracturing caused by tectonic activity facilitate the groundwater flow in karst areas. It is concluded that the study of the karst hydrogeology features in Zagros will lead to a better understanding of karst aquifers overall and help to overcome the problem of drinking water shortage in the region. The accurate and complete data on the number of wells, springs and extraction sites, as well as the volume of water extracted from these reservoirs, are necessary to ensure the protection and preservation of these resources.

The morphology, chemical and isotopic composition of mineral deposits of three caves in the high-mountain region of the Surkhantau Range, located in the southeast of Uzbekistan, have been studied for the first time. The range is part of the southwestern spurs of the Gissar Range, which belongs to the Gissar-Alai mountain system of the Southern Tien Shan. Four types of mineral deposits have been identified in the caves under consideration, the most significant of which are water-chemogenic formations. These deposits, morphologically represented by aggregates of gravitational, subaqueous, corallite-crystallictite crusts, cave powder and fibrous formations, are composed mainly of calcite with inclusions of fluorapatite, barite, magnetite, goethite, rutile, plagioclase, epidote and quartz. The deposits from the entrance part of the Vishnevsky Cave are distinguished by an increase in d13С with almost identical d18О values, which indicates negative temperatures. The data on the composition of groundwater are presented, and the conditions of their formation during speleolithogenesis are described based on hydrogeochemical and isotope studies. The isotopic composition of karst waters is indicative of the predominance of winter snow feeding. Large calcite aggregates and a thick layer of loose sediments in underground cavities provide evidence of the formation of caves in warm and humid climates by abundant watercourses with a feeding area in non-karst sandstones, which are currently almost destroyed by erosion. At present, the development of underground cavities continues in the bottom parts due to the activity of groundwater and in the entrance parts due to landslide processes.

The article presents methodological guidelines for assessing the territory of the Lori region of the Republic of Armenia based on the results of the analysis of the tourism potential of its natural resources. The assessment methodology based on scientific data uses a scoring system that allows taking into account natural resources reserves. The features of applying methodological tools for obtaining an integral assessment of the region’s tourism potential are considered. The study area was fragmented into a network of square-shaped operational territorial cells. After that, centroids were calculated for each square, to which the calculated scores corresponding to the selected criteria were attached. On this basis, further analysis and mapping were carried out using the Spatial Analyst Tools set. When assessing and mapping the tourism potential of the natural resources of the Lori region, the ArcMap 10.8 tools were used. A multifunctional method for a generalized assessment of all the selected components of natural conditions and resources is proposed. It is shown that the method makes it possible to form an idea of the natural resource reserves of the Lori region and to determine the fundamental areas of tourism activity. The main attention is focused on the description of the development of standards for the selected assessment criteria; the scoring system was analyzed. It is recommended to use this method for those regions tourism potential of which has not previously been analyzed and assessed.