This article explains in a fundamentally new way the formation of mid-ocean ridges, which the advocates of neomobilism claim to be the main effective force of the theory of lithospheric plates. These ridges are not the zones of spreading of the Earth's crust but the planetary-size folds of injection of asthenosphere plastic rocks. There had not been granite stratum under the oceans primordially as it is formed in geo-synclinals, which couldn't be found out of bounds of the continents. The development of the World Ocean is caused not only by the endogenous (primitive) water, but by the exogenous water, which is exudated by living organisms, as well. The areas of the initial Earth which hadn't gone through the geosynclinal path of development became the Ocean floor. And its sides are the borders of mainlands elevated for several kilometers by isostasy forces.

In 60-80-ies of XX century it became obvious that a scientific explanation in geography relies on a complex system of methods, from materialist dialectics and scientific methods to highly specialized working methods: visual and laboratory, field and cameral treatment. However, the question of possibility and necessity of scientific geographical method was open. Meanwhile, in these years of intensive geographic search the contours of the landscape-geographical, or geosystem method was spontaneously arising in the theoretical and applied researches. This method was aimed on studying the complex regularities of interaction of society and the geographical environment. The essence of this method is based on the recognition of the necessity of accounting for spatial (geographic) factors, together with historical data in explaining social phenomena. The basis of the method is the concept of the landscape structure of the territory as a set of geosystems (landscapes in the broadest sense). Thus geosystem of one or another level is an operational spatial unit of the study. The research process is a series of consecutive operations from the inventory of geosystems to theoretical or practical conclusions. Landscape-geographical method has for a long time been used unconsciously or in a hidden form without a proper name. Its application has allowed to establish the landscape types of settlement on the Earth, to approach the definition of the ecological potential and ecological capacity of the landscape, to assess the food-resource potential of landscapes, etc. In the future we can expect significant results in the field of assessment of sustainability of landscapes to anthropogenic impacts, landscape and geographical forecasting and modeling.

The paper presents the results of multi-proxy studies of the dated by radiocarbon method peat core of the fen, located near the village of Selikhovo (Znamensky district, Orel region). Pollen, plant macrofossil, macro-charcoal analysis were carried out, the structure of testate amoebae assemblages was determined (risopod analysis). Vegetation and climate reconstructions for the pre-agrarian period were accomplished. The obtained data have shown that throughout the last 7000 cal years BP the plant cover was formed mainly by broadleaf-pine forests with participation of oak, elm and lime, in which since 4800 cal years BP spruce occurred as admixture. According to reconstructions by the best modern analog technique, the total woody cover amounted to about 60 %. The climate of the study area during the period 7000-4800 cal years BP was warmer and, probably, drier, than present climate. The significant cooling and increase of precipitation were reconstructed for the time interval 4800-2500 cal years BP. The beginning of the intensive land use and essential human-induced disturbance of vegetation is dated back to the chronological boundary of 1700 cal years BP.

The aim of this work is to supplement information concerning hard-to-reach areas of the mainland and island coasts of the Arctic and to expand the basis for landscape regionalization of the coastal strip of the western part of the Kara Sea as well. Data collected by 5 flights with total length of over 4000 km and land observations in 17 points carried out in August 2013 are used. The coastal area of the southern part of Novaya Zemlya archipelago, the Vaigach island, the northern tip of the Yugorsky peninsula is characterized by the following nature territorial complexes: 1) strip of water splash, 2) wash away marginal ledges, 3) estuaries, 4) lagoons, 5) tidal bays. These natural complexes are formed under conditions of coastal line advance on land in this area of the Kara sea.

Species Marenzelleria spp. that invaded the Baltic Sea for several years became a leader of significant biogeochemical changes in the sediments that affect cycles of nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus, that play a major role in eutrophication. Field observations of pore water and solid phase of the sediments were held in the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland for assess changes of biogeochemical processes due to polychaetes invasion. For the projection of possible future changes as a consequence of Marenzelleria spp. impact, diagenetic model CANDI (carbon and nutrient diagenesis) is used. The simulation results show that in 5 years there might be lower stores of phosphates (in 2.6 times), ammonium (1.6 times), as well as higher stores of sulphate (1.5 times) in pore water and iron in the sediments (7 times) on the station with high abundance of polychaetes compared to the station with low density of Marenzelleria spp. The stores of nitrates in two stations are practically the same. Concluded, that in conditions of high and low abundance of invasive species different mechanisms are working in the ecosystems.

The paper deals with qualitative and quantitative analysis of rural settlement pattern in river valleys taken as a core of a historical type of agricultural landscape called porech'e (near river area). The conditions of this type of agricultural landscape are described within the forest zone of East European plain as well as their peculiarities and specific rural settlement pattern. Probabilistic mathematical models are suggested for the rural settlement pattern of porech'e. Empirical testing of the models was done for three different river valleys, including large river Onega in the West of the forest zone of East European plain and medium river In'va and small river Yaz'va in the east of the zone. The results of modeling show general features of rural settlement pattern within different river valleys of the forest zone of East European plain.

The article discusses the tourist and recreational space as an object of regional policy. Moreover the category of tourist and recreational space been formulated from the standpoint of scientific knowledge in the domestic regional studies is specified on the base of spatial development management objectives. In this regard, the article discusses the common experience of identifying the category of space with a category of spatial or territorial system and tourist one as particular. From the standpoint of management and goal setting the author proves that only mastered and managed part of the tourist and recreational space can be considered as a tourist and recreation system. Moreover the level of systemic organization of tourist and recreational space is determined by the degree of its tourism potential implementation, which qualitative and quantitative parameters with the other factors are determined by the role of tourist sector in regional development. The graphic material illustrates the uneven domestic tourist-recreational space and the results of the tourist function in the regional development evaluation.