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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 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.