The article discusses approaches to systematization and assessment of the significance of Soviet and Russian geographical discoveries in Antarctica in the first decades of research on the continent. It is shown that not all the criteria adopted for evaluating world geographical discoveries are adequate for the ice continent, including for the discoveries of Russian geographers in East Antarctica and the Southern Ocean within the framework of the CAE, SAE, and RAE. The main discoveries and primary descriptions of Soviet scientists fall precisely on the period from 1956 to 1975 and subsequent decades (more than 2000), which are respectively reflected in the toponyms of the region and shown on the first maps. They had a different scale and significance–from the global (discovery of subglacial terrain and Lake Vostok) to the continental and regional (mountains, rocks, nunataks, elements of the coastline, the relief of the ocean f loor, etc.) levels. It is concluded that most of the discoveries were predicted, logically followed from the previous stages of geographical research on the continent, and were determined by progress in the development of technical means and technologies for space sensing, geophysics, deep drilling of glaciers, the use of deep-sea vehicles, etc. A significant part of the discoveries was made in various fields of Earth sciences as a result of detailed research using new methods, including geophysical and remote sensing. The necessity of continuing work on accounting, cataloging, and personalization of Russian geographical discoveries in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean is justified.

Due to restrictions on the movement of people caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the volume of passenger air traffic has decreased in 2020. The geographic study of this phenomenon is highly relevant. The features of the spread of the pandemic over the territory of Europe from a transport-geographical point of view are described; differences are revealed in the dynamics of the population’s aviation mobility (the average number of trips by one resident during the year) of 49 European countries (including Russia) under its influence during the first COVID year. We used statistical information on passenger turnover at large and medium-sized airports in Europe and Russia for 2019 and 2020. The values of the total passenger turnover of all airports in each country for these two years are compared. These changes were measured absolutely and relatively, which made it possible to identify the types of their dynamics: catastrophic, strong, medium, moderate, weak, and insignificant decline. Geographically, the spread of COVID-19 was extremely uneven: at first, the epidemic covered large countries of Europe (Northern Italy became the main focus after Wuhan), then neighboring or more distant ones, closely connected with them; the last but not the least, the countries of the Balkan Peninsula and the post-Soviet space of Eastern Europe. The spread of the disease proceeded hierarchically. The first cases arrived by air, first from the main foci, from where the coronavirus infection was then transmitted to other countries by new groups of air passengers. The pandemic led to a decrease in the level of aviation mobility of the European population from the previous 4.3 to 1.2 trips per year, the strongest in 20 countries, and moderate in 14. The phenomenon of human immobility has arisen, that is, a sharp decrease in transport mobility of people, their greater forced attachment to their place of residence, the inability to move long, medium, and in some cases even short distances.

The article presents the results of a study of long-term trends in the development of transnational business and its geography, covering the second half of the 19th, 20th, and early 21st centuries. A comprehensive assessment of changes in the role of transnational corporations (TNCs) in the world economy, shifts in their localization, in the spatial and sectoral structure of foreign production is carried out based on data on accumulated incoming and outgoing foreign direct investment. The main research methods are historical-geographical and systematic approaches that considering global relationships and analyze the processes of internationalization of production in the context of the evolution of the world economic system. It is shown that international production of TNCs originated in the middle of the 19th century, and it developed in two large waves, separated by a deep recession and prolonged recovery growth. In its evolution, four stages have been identified, lasting from 20–30 to ~60 years. It is established that the most radical transformations in the geography of foreign direct investment (FDI) occurred, firstly, in the middle of the 20th century in the conditions of a deep crisis of the global transnational business, and secondly, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries during its dynamic growth. The relationship between the rise and decline of the great powers, the collapse of colonial empires, and the transition of Western countries to mature industrialization, on the one hand, and the restructuring of the territorial and production structure of the transnational business, on the other, is revealed. It is shown that the main shifts in the geography of international production are associated with changes in the ratio of economically developed and developing countries in the structure of incoming and outgoing FDI. The fundamental transformation of the role of transnational business in the world economy, according to the author, occurred in the 1980s, when foreign direct investment and international production of TNCs became the main form of internationalization of the economy

Within the framework of this article, the author asks the question of what migration processes took place at the local level against the background of depopulation and spatial polarization inherent in all areas of the old-developed Non-Black Earth Region and how this influenced the current state of settlements and the general rural settlement pattern. Field research materials and analysis of grassroots statistical information made it possible to trace the dynamics of the rural population in the post-Soviet period and reveal how rural residents moved between settlements of the Totemsky district of the Vologda Oblast, which was selected as a testing ground. As territorial units, rural councils were considered within the old borders, before the enlargement of the 2010s, which corresponded to individual rural clusters or large logging settlements. Territories with different geographic locations and with different economic conditions were selected. Depopulation in the post-Soviet period proceeded unevenly, but its territorial projection was subject not only to the central-peripheral logic. The number of the rural population grew not only in the regional center and the village with gas compressor stations but also in other settlements with different characteristics. The largest depopulation in absolute terms fell on monofunctional forest stations that appeared in the Soviet period, and the relative population decrease was maximum in small villages on the periphery of almost all rural bushes. At the same time, the post-Soviet population dynamics and the transformation of the economy were also influenced by the peculiarities of micro-location, buildings, neighborhoods, and other local and almost non-parameterizable factors. They also often affect the attractiveness of rural settlements for the seasonal population, which contributes to the temporary maintenance of the historical settlement network and forms a small potential for redevelopment of certain territories.

Independent India has achieved outstanding economic success. India’s rating is number 5 among the largest world economies (2019), and the country is planning to become the third superpower by 2030. Indian achievements are based on rapid technology progress and active participation in globalization. Rapid economic growth is accompanied with deepening inequality among population and regions, socio-cultural regression features, environmental degradation. Contradictions are still more acute in pandemic time. There are very different concepts of crises solution and following development pattern. Representatives of market fundamentalism and big business are eager to use crises as a turning point to accelerate Indian monopolies growth and global development. The largest rural protests erupted because of “antifarmers” laws on free land market and development deregulation in interests of corporations. To achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals (2030) India is required to implement planning of integral socio-environmental-economic development based on regionalization systems of different scales and advanced technology. Geography combining socioeconomic and physical geographical disciplines is called to play the leading role in studies of integral problems of sustainable regional and global development.

The article shows the possibilities of the chorological approach in assessing the foreign economic activity of Russian regions. The author’s definition of the chorological approach is provided. The selection of choroses (mesoregions with similar characteristics) within the Russian Federation is made using the methods of multidimensional classification and typology of regions based on a complex of natural and socioeconomic indicators. Configurationally, mesoregions are distinguished as the geographic areas–rings–with symbolic internal borders, but also, at the same time, natural state borders. The following chorological formations were distinguished: the outer chorological “ring,” consisting of 47 subjects; an intermediate “ring,” consisting of 23 subjects bordering on the subjects of the outer “ring;” an inner “ring,” the 13 subjects of which border only with the subjects of the intermediate “ring.” On the basis of the author’s method of ranking mesoregions, an assessment of the effectiveness of the chorological structure of the Russian Federation is given, and the following conclusions are drawn: (1) the most stable and effective chorological formation is the intermediate “ring;” (2) in terms of foreign economic potential, the inner “ring” is a significantly distinguished chorological ring, which is represented by the federal subjects of the European part of Russia, including Moscow, which, thanks to the existing system of economic management and financial accounting, occupies an exaggeratedly high place in the existing structure of production, distribution and export of various types of products; (3) the positions of the outer “ring” are relatively weak. However, it has a high resource and economic potential and, according to the world experience of successful development of border regions, has good development prospects. The results of the study may be used in the development of new principles of socioeconomic policy: the representation of the subjects of the Russian Federation in the form of interconnected choroses and enclaves makes it possible to effectively use the specifics of the territorial structure of the national economy, as well as to effectively organize the foreign economic activity of the Russian regions.

The article defines approaches to researching the urban symbolic policy by the innovation theory. Spatial diffusion of geopolitical concepts “Neo-Eurasianism” and “Pan-Turkism” as geopolitical innovations of relevance to the Russian Federation is considered. Following the innovation development since idea’s inception, its formalization into a geopolitical concept through to the phase of political conflict and its termination, the authors analyze various urban forms (toponymy, onomastics, iconography, and urban events) linked to names of iconic figures for Neo-Eurasianism (Lev Gumilev) and Pan-Turkism (Ismail Gasprinsky, etc). In the research, the authors fix and describe the usage of urban symbolism by various actors: from municipal and regional authorities to federal and international public and political institutions. The innovation diffusion theory, which is widely applied in domestic and foreign socio-geographical studies, was showed to have heuristic value for studying the spread of geopolitical ideas and concepts. Analysis of data enables to state that urban symbolic policy can produce political space resources for phasing development of geopolitical innovations and their spatial diffusion to be deduced. The authors, observing the installation aspects of monuments to Lev Gumilev, Ismail Gasprinsky, and Zeki Velidi Togan, illustrate the symbolization of Russian public figures and struggle with it as processes of forming and destruction of resources for the development of geopolitical innovation in Russia. Having analyzed the geopolitical innovation processes in Russia, the authors emphasize the following key features of geopolitical innovation: migration process of innovation cores; hierarchical or cascade type of indirect diffusion; “peripheral innovativeness;” “privatization of an innovation by the closest center;” emergence of “network cores” of innovation.

Studying and forecasting the consequences of the climate change impact on aquatic ecosystems are among the important tasks of hydroecology and hydrobiology. Over the past 30 years, according to data of meteorological stations on the catchment area of Lake Onego–the largest reservoir of Northwestern Russia—the average annual air temperature is steadily increasing. In the winter of 2019–2020, an abnormally high air temperature was recorded, which exceeded the climatic norm by 5–9 °С. According to satellite data, in winter 2020, for the first time in the 65-year history of observations, there was no ice cover on most of the open part of Onego. To assess the consequences of an abnormally warm winter for the ecosystem of Onego, its state in the spring–summer period was studied. In June 2020, the water temperature, the concentration of chlorophyll “a,” and photosynthesis were measured, and the structural parameters of phytoplankton in Onego were studied using standard methods. Based on the data from the temperature sensors of the buoy station, it was found that the spring thermal bar passed 10–15 days earlier than the average long-term periods, the temperature stratification of water was established 15–20 days earlier. The temperature of the surface water layer in Onego in June 2020 was 5–8°C higher than the average long-term values for the period of spring mixing and corresponded to the period of summer heating of water. In the open part of the lake, a shift in the phenological phases of phytoplankton development was observed, in particular, its summer composition, the seasonal maximum of chlorophyll “a,” and primary production were formed a month earlier. In the Kondopoga Bay of Onego, which was exposed to the highest anthropogenic phosphorus load, the level of phytoplankton development first reached the a-eutrophic state.

Features of transformation of the minimum runoff parameters in the Ural River basin are considered, taking into account modern trends in the water regime of rivers in the European part of Russia. The problem of spatial and temporal changes in river runoff (including minimum) is especially relevant for regions with insufficient and unstable moisture. Such territories include the Ural River basin, most of which is located within the steppe, semi-desert, and desert zones. The analysis of the dynamics of average monthly and 30-day water discharges during the period of minimum runoff for the rivers of the studied basin is carried out. Changes in the parameters of low water phases have been established, in particular, a shift in the dates of the onset of the period of the minimum 30-day runoff of the summer–autumn and winter low-water periods. Statistical characteristics of the minimum runoff of the winter season in the Ural River basin in various railings are presented. A steady decrease in the variability of the minimum runoff of low-water phases, primarily of the winter low-water period, was noted. In conclusion, the need to consider the modern dynamics of the minimum runoff for solving the problems of the integrated use of water resources of transboundary river basins of the steppe zone is updated.

Recreational water use is a mandatory part of summer recreation. Due to the global economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, recreation has shifted from the seas to the rivers. Hydrological and geomorphological processes affect river reclamation sites, causing significant damage to ecosystems, infrastructure, and population. To determine the adequacy of the Russian methodology for calculating the amount of probabilistic damage for cases of assessing damage to the recreational complex and vacationers during f loods, an analytical study was conducted. Using the case of the Charysh River basin (river length is 547 km, the basin area is 22.2 thousand km²; 16 objects of rural tourism) it is shown that in the event of a f lood of 1% security, damage can reach RUB 1232 thousand and 283 ha of recreationally significant areas. It is also established that the methodology does not reflect the specifics of recreational activities and recreational water use. The results of the assessment are distorted due to the complexity of identifying economic agents and objects of dangerous influence. The current methodology does not consider the damage caused to ecosystems and vacationers. It is proposed to consider these factors and to detail the assessment using an industry methodology.

The problem of mass renaming of geographical objects is considered an important socio-geographical problem. The main approaches to the study of geographical object renaming are considered. The conceptualization of the geographical space is an innovative cultural and geographical process, the purpose of which is to change the geographical picture of the world. Conceptualization is associated with a conscious desire to transform space by creating ideologically and/or status new places. There are some mechanisms for the conceptualization of geographical space–renaming a territory or place, raising the public status of a place (while maintaining the former geographical name), demolishing, moving monuments, and replacing old monuments and museums with new ones (“rebaptism” of the place). The hierarchical aspect of the “reconfiguration” of the space is considered, the places and territories subject to regular conceptualization are highlighted. The basic element of the conceptualization of space is a geoconcept: it represents a new, innovative, “name of a place,” which has connotative meanings that reflect a new idea or reveal a new associative image of a place. The article highlights the places and territories subject to regular conceptualization. These include new countries and their capitals, new regions, cities, and territories of cultural frontiers. The theoretical provisions are supported by the analysis of extensive material on renaming in 16 neighboring countries, covering more than 400 cities (capitals, regional and district centers); in total, about 700 cases of changing place names have been identified and analyzed over the past 120 years. The choice of the time frame of the study (20th–21st centuries) is associated to fix the pre-revolutionary, Soviet and post-Soviet state of the geocultural space. The collected material formed the basis for creating a directory of renamed cities in neighboring countries in the 20th–21st centuries. Typical examples of geoconceptualization at regional and local levels are analyzed–regional cities of Ukraine, the northern part of the Russian-Kazakh border, the central part of Tashkent.

There are still scantily explored areas in the history of geography. This includes a graphical representation of statistical data on maps currently associated with thematic cartography. The period of origin of this direction is of particular interest because of the relevance of this tool in scientific knowledge, in the popularization of knowledge, in education, in management, etc. The article deals with the issues of visualization of official statistics of Russia, European states, and the United States in statistical atlases and albums of graphic statistics. Attention is focused on the period of the birth of thematic mapping of statistical data, or rather, on the second half of the 19th century. The author compares these forerunners of national atlases according to the chronology and novelty of the use of graphic tools. These are quantitative icons, cartograms, cartodiagrams, and f low charts, based on scale strips. These publications are considered from the point of view of the art of cartography, considering the ease of reading and the aesthetics of visual perception. A wide range of topics, artfulness of execution, and a variety of cartographic material characterize the publications of France, the United States, and Russia. The result was a confirmation of the high level of development of Russian thematic cartography in comparison with foreign ones. For example, the Economic and Statistical Atlas of European Russia, which became the first economic atlas, or the Timiryazev statistical Atlas, which enriched science with an innovative approach. This study shows the features of the formation of statistical atlases and albums of graphic statistics, the reasons for their appearance, and perspective for further development. These publications are the forerunners of national atlases, in which the object of mapping is the state itself.

Application of cultural and landscape approach ensures better opportunities for explorers and designers to control the development of historic towns and the formation on their territories of a sustainable system for cultural and natural heritage protection. The following principles form the basic notion of historical and cultural town landscape: the townscape is functionally set up in the process of interaction between the man and nature; there is a close interrelation between material and non-material components of the townscape; the important role of the spatial and visual relations in the townscape and its position in the historical and cyclic time should be considered. The concept of the historic town in the context of the cultural and landscape approach requires consideration of such characteristics as authenticity, integrity, historical representativeness, and actuality. Particular attention has been given to the necessity of the formation of cultural and landscape essential frame and its significant role in the preservation of historic town as a holistic and diversified cultural townscape. In this case, not only the sites of most valuable architectural monuments and natural objects should be considered, but also the urban landscape loci that allow obtaining the comprehensive idea of the historic town. Of special interest is the role of art and culture in the adaptation of historic territorial objects for the new functions compatible with the modern requirements of inhabitants.