Mapping of geosystems for landscape planning of areas in the Altai Republic

Abstract

Some methodological issues related to medium-scale mapping of geosystems for landscape mapping of mountainous territories are considered. We give a brief description to the planning procedure as well as determining the place and role of landscape maps in the development of related documents. We demonstrate the possibilities of using the landscape basis in assessing and determining the territorial development goals for natural components. The 1:200 000 landscape basis is compiled for the framework landscape plans of the Maiminskii and Chemal’skii districts of the Altai Republic. The mapping technique was built upon V.B. Sochava’s theory of geosystems; the system-hierarchical approach to identifying the co-subordination of landscape taxa was used as the basis for a classification of geosystems and for the creation of the legend to landscape maps. Use is made of a combination of the typological and regional approaches to displaying the lower levels of landscape structure of mountainous territories for rationalizing the sub sequent implementation of landscape planning documents in geochores with particularly complex topography because of the smallcontour (fractional and mosaic pattern and seriality of geomers). Maps of geosystems are provided for two administrative districts, and a description is given to the structure of the territory represented by 48 groups of facies from the North Asian goletz and taiga class of geoms, and by 12 groups of facies from the North Asian forest-steppe and steppe class of geoms.