The article examines the degree of fragmentation and polarization of the socio-economic space in Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk oblasts as part of the Middle Urals from Nizhny Tagil to Chelyabinsk. The study is based on the analysis of selected statistical indicators for 29 municipalities and on the results of field surveys in some cities and districts. The authors examine the specifics of individual areas, their evolution from the date of the first established enterprise, population dynamics, including migration, the settlement pattern, the structure and current state of industries, and the main economic and environmental problems at the municipal level. As is evidently shown, the spatial trends of the 2000s in the Middle Urals generally correspond to the current all-Russian trends of concentrating economy and growth of the largest centers and agglomerations. An enhanced role of large businesses that control the raw materials sector, and the dependence of cities on industrial specialization and condition of key enterprises determine the Middle Urals’ peculiarity. The field survey of municipalities confirms the conclusion about the resilience of the “factory-city” link so well established in the Middle Urals. The main factors of survival are the presence of a successful “master” (a big company whose products are in demand on the Russian and world markets) and the interest of the state, primarily in the defense industry. However, the analysis of various examples shows that other things being equal, personal initiatives are also important for development. Environmental polarization in the Middle Urals is also very strong, where many foci of ecological disaster alternate with vast areas of almost untouched nature.

The plant cover, structure and types of mires in the highest central Vetrenyj Poyas range (upland) are described. The oligotrophic and mesooligotrophic, cotton grass-Sphagnum mire complexes, located on terraces varying in the hypsometric level, were shown to predominate here. The mires are combined, forming stepwise, cascade mire systems. The spatial structure of the vegetation on most of the mires is homogeneous, and consists of a small number of mire sites. Slope massifs with complex spatial plant sequences have been revealed. Mesotrophic ridge-hollow mire sites, which have the main features of Karelian aapa-type mire complexes, also occur there. Solitary massifs of this type have not been found. Spring mires with poor plant species composition were founded on the slopes of the highest ridge of the range. Comparison of the mires on the terraced surfaces at the northern foot of the range and its south-facing slopes has shown that the elevated part of the Vetrenyj Poyas range forms a boundary between various geographic types of mires.

Land use issues are a hot topic both in Russia and abroad. This happens due to the rapid growth of the metropolis, a decrease in agricultural land, changes in cultural landscape, and the ever-increasing development of tourism. The article discusses some land use regulations in Germany, laws concerning inheritance and sale of agricultural land, as well as conflict situations that arise between the tourism industry and agriculture in Bavaria. In Germany, more than two-thirds of the land is owned by private owners. There is no land without an ownership in the country. Private property has been unshakable for centuries. Many land holdings are family owned and inherited. Agricultural land in Bavaria, for example, is protected especially to preserve rural settlements and cultural landscape. However, the modern pace and lifestyle, rising housing prices and housing shortages lead to the fact that a part of the agricultural land is alienated, sold and gradually built up. The article, by the case of Bavaria, describes different types of property: private, communal, collective (partnership). There are also given examples of cooperation/conflicts of agriculture and tourism. The article emphasizes priority rights of communities over entrepreneurs and their right of veto over construction or other land-related operations.

In periodicals of the XIX century, the history of Alexander von Humboldt’s trip to Russia in 1829 was repeatedly described. This was written about in the XX century as well, but the existing works did not pay much attention to the impact of this trip on the geographical views of Humboldt himself, as well as the impact of his writings and ideas on the geographical views of Russian scientists. This article attempts to answer these questions. While traveling in Russia, Humboldt not only measured heights, conducted astronomical, meteorological, magnetic and other observations, but also collected information from local residents in different parts of the country. This is evidenced by the extensive Preface to his work “Asie centrale”, and Humboldt’s correspondence with scientists and statesmen of Russia. Humboldt followed the results of the expeditions that took place in the Russian Empire after his journey to the end of his days, hoping to publish a new edition of his work with clarifications and additions. In turn, Humboldt’s geographical ideas influenced the views of Russian scientists. Of particular importance were not so much the information about the geography of Asia and Russia in his works, but the nature of the analysis of the accumulated data, and the ideas that determined the course of further research.

The article considers the influence of urbanized territories (landscapes), including impermeable and poorly permeable areas with reduced infiltration ability, on the average longterm runoff (annual normal flow) of major regions of the world and the world as a whole. Water consumption in these territories is not taken into account. The areas of urbanized territories for the period of calculating the annual normal flow (up to the middle of the 20th century) and modern urbanized territories, as well as their share in the total area of the regions under consideration and in their most inhabited part, were calculated. The current (after the middle of the 20th century) annual normal flow increase in the most habitable part of these regions and the total runoff increase due to the extension of urbanized territories and their state transition are estimated. The total runoff formed on the area of urbanized territories is determined. The calculations showed that urbanization of landscapes is an important factor of the runoff increase. The world river runoff formed in urban areas is estimated in many hundreds of km3 per year, however its share in the annual normal flow of the regions under consideration shows that the influence of urbanized territories is relatively small. A rough estimate is given of a possible increase in runoff in the future as a result of the urbanization areas growth.

S.A. Gorokhov’s monograph is examined, published in 2020 and devoted to research in the field of geography of religions. The author uses socio-geographical approaches and mathematical methods, which allow to obtain new scientific results. The research methodology proposed by S.A. Gorokhov can be applied not only in the geography of religions, but also in other areas of social geography.

S.A. Gorokhov’s monograph is examined, published in 2020 and devoted to research in the field of geography of religions. The author uses socio-geographical approaches and mathematical methods, which allow to obtain new scientific results. The research methodology proposed by S.A. Gorokhov can be applied not only in the geography of religions, but also in other areas of social geography.