Many problems studied by geography, first of all the problem of typical space, are isomorphic to the problems of the other sciences. The expediency of organism’s size in biology was studied in 1926 by J.B.S. Haldane. Being convicted socialist, Haldane wrote that the possibility of the building socialism in the country largely depends on their size. In early 1980s in geography B.N. Zimin put forward the theory of small developed counties. Such a theory makes possible the exact definition of a small developed country and the explanation of high economic and social efficiency of such countries. W. Bunge pointed out that the roots of theoretical geography could be not the W. Christaller’s central place theory, but earlier writings of climatologists and geomorphologists. A.A. Tishkov introduced the notion of typical space in order to define the typical area of the dynamic properties of zonal plant communities. It was found in social geography that the typical space (size) of central places systems is 104 –105 km2 . It’s very promising to study the typical spaces in interrelation with typical times. Such a notion was introduced and developed in geography by A.D. Armand and V.O. Targulyan in early 1970s.

This article provides the estimation of the area with unfavorable natural conditions of life in different Federal Districts of Russia. Areas with unfavorable natural conditions of life occupy 68% of the territory of Russia. In the Northwestern, Urals and Siberian Federal Districts of Russia the share of areas with unfavorable natural conditions of life is more than 70%, and in the Far Eastern Federal District – 94%. For areas with unfavorable natural conditions of life the main problem of their sustainable development is the natural and climatic discomfort of the life conditions. The share of the areas with unfavorable natural conditions of life for every federal district was calculated for the contemporary climate conditions and for the model climate conditions. Obtained model estimations of the climate change show the role of climatic factor of life conditions in federal districts of the Russian Federation for the middle of the 21st century. As a result of the expected global warming, in the Far Eastern Federal District the share of areas with unfavorable natural conditions of life is almost unchanged. But redistribution of the areas with extreme conditions into the category of areas with less extreme conditions is possible. In about 30% of the areas with unfavorable natural life conditions in Siberian, Urals, and Northwestern Federal Districts conditions can move to favorable ones. In the Central, Volga and Southern Federal Districts the increase of the areas with favorable conditions will occure due to warming.

The article contains, to the author’s knowledge, the first Russian review of research of the second home, especially one that corresponds to the Russian idea of dacha. This review is incomplete, since it only covers Western, primarily European, literature and partly statistics. They are analyzed in comparison with the Russian literature, but the latter is not treated in detail.

Different issues are touched sequentially, albeit very briefly: 1) the phenomenon of dacha and its history; 2) the history of its studies in a number of countries-leaders in this field; 3) the representation of the studies on second real estate (dachas) in some international journals; 4) definitions, assessment or estimation of the phenomenon in several countries; 5) the reasons for a social ‘super-scale’ of Russian dacha phenomenon; 6) an attempt to depict the main types of dacha areas in Europe; 7) conclusion, with a discussion of different approaches to the second home and of its prospects.

The author states that the flow of scientific publications on second home emerged in the 1960s, although the phenomenon is much older. These studies are still lacking broad comparisons, criteria and conceptual base. It makes any definitions and typologies difficult. Russia, being the world champion by the number of dacha estates, lags behind the West in terms of scientific and informational mastering of this interdisciplinary topic. Since the phenomenon is growing, it deserves attention of scientists, especially of geographers.

The article discusses the phenomenon of Russian “dachas” through the prism of Western, especially European, research. Strategies of dacha-dwellers in historical perspective are identified , as well as importance of dachas for the Soviet and post-Soviet society. Particular attention is paid to the social aspects of life of dacha-dwellers in the suburbs in the post-Soviet period.

The article discusses the concept of dacha, specifics of dacha study in Soviet and post-Soviet times, a variety of types of dachas depending on the character of buildings and use of garden plots. The evolution of dachas from the beginning of the 20th century until today is analyzed. The causes of the mass development of dachas in the USSR and post-Soviet Russia and Ukraine are investigated. The composition of dacha-dwellers and way of the use of second home by citizens depending on the distance from the big cities and frequency of visits are shown. Common and different features of dachas near Moscow and Kiev are identified.

The article examines patterns of formation of organized cottage settlements in the suburban areas of major Russian cities, including the evolution of their types and sizes, shifts in their spatial organization and way of life of the population. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of cottage suburbs in Moscow metropolitan area, where they are most developed, highlighting the specificity of settlements in New Moscow. In Russia, the formation of cottage suburbs spatially was spreading according to the principle of diffusion of innovations from the capitals. Starting from Moscow, they appeared around St. Petersburg, and since the mid-2000s in major cities and resort areas, especially on the Black Sea coast. As in Moscow suburbs, the formation of cottage settlements began in inner suburban area with a gradual territorial expansion. Virtually every major Russian city has its prestigious “Rublevka” cottage area, and many of them have a large number of cottage settlements located within the city borders. In the postcrisis period, there was a shift from elite cottages towards settlements focused on the wider middle class groups, stimulating the suburbanization.

This article presents the results of studying the functional response of forest ecosystems in one of the ecoregions of the Middle Volga area on the inter-year change in meteorological conditions, which may to a certain degree simulate multi-year (intra-century and century-long) climatic changes. The procedure of empirical simulation using generalized thermo-hydro-edaphic and production parameters of local ecosystems was developed. The two alternative climatic signals (thermo-arid and humid) were considered. It was shown that the humid signal more effectively and diversely influences the functional state of forest ecosystems and carbon accumulation in the forest compared to the thermo-arid signal. Regional scenarios for primary productivity of forest ecosystems under various climate trends are presented as well.

The paper summarizes the current knowledge of palynological criteria which allow to reconstruct anthropogenic disturbances of plant cover in the late holocene. The case studies of modern and fossil pollen spectra of Central Forest State Reserve (Tver oblast, Russia) and forest reserve Osveisky in Belarus were discussed. Obtained results show that anthropogenic changes of plant cover could be reliable detected by general changes in composition of pollen spectra and by appearance of particular species – indicators.

The methods of extraction and analysis of tourist images is developed. The typology of prefectures of Japan is made, the most typical components of their images are identified.

Numerous lakes of continental type are widespread on territory of Transbaikalia. Chloride and carbonate salts of natrium prevail in chemical composition of lacustrine waters, but water contains only small amount of sulfates. The salinization of river waters due to evaporation provides the accumulation of chloride and carbonate salts of natrium, as well as sulfates. But their concentration in lakes is growing unevenly, because biogeochemical processes, in particular, sulphate reducing processes, influence forming of chemical composition of waters. Sulphate reducing processes take place not only in the bottom sediments, but in the waters of lakes.

Неожиданно, в буквальном смысле “подкрался”, юбилей давнего друга Института географии РАН и нашего дорогого коллеги Влади́мира Па́вловича Максако́вского – видного экономико- географа и страноведа, профессора Московского гусударственного педагогического университета, доктора географических наук, академика Российской академии образования, Почетного члена Русского географического общества, ветерана Великой Отечественной войны, автора серии учебников и многочисленных фундаментальных публикаций по социально-экономической географии мира.

В дни празднования 90-летия В.П. Максаковского мы на страницах нашего журнала представляем ему слово, чтобы он вспомнил некоторые яркие страницы его дружбы с Институтом географии РАН и его сотрудниками.

New book on cities, as a contribution to the historical and economic geography.