Overcoming intra-state and inter-state boundaries can lead to certain distortions of information and communication network, referred to as border effects. A hypothesis about the absence of border effects is formulated. Tree criteria of check of this hypothesis are offered. It is established that the extension of the postal network inside Siberia in the pre-Soviet period was not accompanied by such effects when overcoming administrative boundaries. Approaching of the postal network of Siberia to the state border and overcome it to create post offices in China and Mongolia gave the basis to detect three types and six kinds of border effects. It is shown that the kinds can line up in a chain of sequential actions to expand the network. The possibility of existence of seven additional kinds of border effects which aren’t found yet is suggested.

The article presents the results of statistical and cartographic analysis of the changes in the territorial structure of the confessional space of Russia (in actual borders) over an interval of two centuries - from 1719 to 1917, divided into two periods - from 1719 to 1851 and from 1851 to 1917. In accordance with the results of the census of 1897, the main structural components of the confessional space of the country were distinguished. The study revealed that in the XVIII-first half of the XIX centuries in the confessional space of Russia, the Orthodox «core» was strengthened due to the Christianization of the pagan population of the «contact zones» of Ural-Volga area, Siberia and Far East. In the second half of the XIX-the beginning of the XX century two domestic Muslim «cores» - the Volga-Ural and the Caucasian - became clearer. Two «islands» of Buddhist space (Kalmyk near the Caspian Sea and Buryat-Manchurian in the south of Siberia and the Far East), the actual «core» of which was located outside of Russia, were not Christianized.

The article discusses the problem of so-called «settlements without a population». It is argued that considering these settlements distorts the real picture in the settlement pattern. It is proposed to distinguish between the real and nominal number of settlements. The number and share of «settlements without a population» in Russian Federation and its regions are shown. Differences between municipal districts were analyzed by the example of Tver region. The variants of real situation in the places that are registered as «settlements without a population» were identified. The suggestion was made to change the rules of rural settlements accounting.

The area of the Barents and Kara seas is under the increasing threat of anthropogenic impact. As a result of multi-years geological and geophysical studies we have identified the factors that affect the environmental situation in the region. We give a general geological and tectonic characterization of the region. We introduce a new concept of ecological and geological formation zones (eco-formation zones) for rational geoecological zoning. We compiled eco-geological map of these areas which is the first attempt to combine exogenous and endogenous factors of the negative impact on the ecological situation in the region. We made conclusion that in the prospect of more and more intensive economic development of the region the increasing of negative trends, especially in areas of increased environmental hazards identified in this paper, can lead to extremely negative consequences, including environmental disasters.

Original mesoscale landscape map (1:100 000) based on fieldwork data served the basis for an analysis of altitudinal structure of the Mongun-Taiga massif (3970.5 m above sea level) located in arid sector of Inner Asia. Characteristics of main types of soil and plant communities are presented. The results of cluster analysis showed that there is a high similarity of landscape structure of the altitudinal levels in the range of altitudes 2400-2800 m. It’s allowed to mark out the ecotone altitudinal belt between mountain steppe and glacio-nival belts. The ecotone patterns description was obtained. It should be noted that the revealed Mongun-Taiga ecotone is characterized by approximately equal combination of mesophytic, xerophytic and cryophytic plant associations. It was revealed by the quantitative estimation of the landscape-forming factors and statistical methods that geology-geomorphological characteristics have the priority impact on soil and plant cover formation. In order to take into account the influence of climate on the formation of the landscape of the study area, the simulation of temperature and precipitation spatial distribution was done using high resolution digital terrain models. Such a model is an inevitable part of analysis taking into account that network of meteorological stations is very rare. It was shown that in similar climate conditions edaphic factors have the prime importance in landscape structure genesis. The main contacts of ecotone vegetation patterns were considered. The prevalence of diffusive contact in arid high mountain of Mongun-Taiga was revealed.

The historical-geographical regionalization is based on historical maps and reliable scientific descriptions. It is considered as important source for identifying dynamic trends, which are related to natural, socio-economic, political processes and cultural-historical features. The method of historical-geographical regionalization was first applied to the analysis of the complex historical-geographical descriptions. The article presents the historical-geographical regionalization of the Lake Onega (Onezhskoe) coasts at the end of the XVIII century, which is based on descriptions made by academician N. Ozeretskovsky (1750-1827). Nine historic-geographical regions have been identified and characterized. The analysis proved the highest degree of versatility, authenticity and scientific significance of the N. Ozeretskovsky studies as the first comprehensive database of the Lake Onega coasts and analytical material for revealing the cultural landscapes dynamic. The modern interpretation of the historical-geographical regionalization made it possible to focus attention on the processes that determine the formation of modern cultural landscapes and to identify areas where the most significant changes in natural conditions and/or priority direction of development have taken place for 230 years.

The article is devoted to the analysis of the most topical issues of socio-geographical studies produced in Russia. Based on the analysis of the research subjects, the article concludes that the following research topics predominate: polarization of development, differentiation of the population according to various criteria, social and environmental constraints, acute social problems, development of social communities and identity. The topic devoted to the study of the quality of life is sharply highlighted by the number of dissertations. It is shown that the main territorial level of the analysis of socio-geographical studies is regional - and at the same time the Asian regions of the country are studied much less often than the European ones. The theses mention and analyze the works of foreign scientists, but Soviet-Russian research methods prevail. The conclusion is made about the formation of Russian post-Soviet social geography based on the Soviet scientific foundation, but possessing the features of development, certain stability and actualization of contemporary socio-geographical problems.