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The Tourism Potential of the North Caucasus: the Formation, Characteristics and Development Prospects

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The Tourism Potential of the North Caucasus: the Formation, Characteristics and Development Prospects GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites Year XI, vol. 22, no. 2, 2018, p.347-358 ISSN 2065-0817, E-ISSN 2065-1198 DOI 10.30892/gtg.22206-293 THE TOURISM POTENTIAL OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS: THE FORMATION, CHARACTERISTICS AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS Svetlana ANDREYANOVA* Stavropol State Agrarian University, Department of Tourism and Service, 355017, 12, Russia, Stavropol, Zootekhnichesky Ave, e-mail: [email protected] Anna IVOLGA Stavropol State Agrarian University, Department of Tourism and Service, 355017, 12, Russia, Stavropol, Zootekhnichesky Ave, e-mail: [email protected] Citation: ANDREYANOVA, S., & IVOLGA A. (2018). THE TOURISM POTENTIAL OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS: THE FORMATION, CHARACTERISTICS AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites. 22(2), 347–358. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.22206-293 Abstract: This research looks at the North Caucasus region at the south of Russia, a bridge between the Black and the Caspian Seas, its unique geographical location that determined the diversity of natural, climate and ethnographic resources. The goal is to show the modern complications concerning of the North Caucasus Region unique offer on the world tourist market. This has been done by examining different zones of nature management with their features in region. For this research we used coefficients relate with the social and economic development, and tourism attractiveness. As a result, we found the existing problems which lead to low internal demand and adverse demand on the international tourist market. Through showing that the Solving these urgent problems together with implementation of the Development Strategies will make the North Caucasus an attractive resort for different kind of tourists. This information will likely impact the design of future special tourist zones in the region. Key words: tourism, geographical region, tourism development, North Caucasus * * * * * * INTRODUCTION The North Caucasus is a geographical area (a part of Caucasus geographical region) located in the south of Russia between the Black and the Caspian Seas. Its conventional boundary passes across the Kuma–Manych Depression that had connected these seas in ancient times. The southern boundary passes along the summits of the Greater Caucasus and separates the territories of Georgia, the Republic of Abkhazia, the Republic of South Ossetia and the Republic of Azerbaijan (Figure 1). As for * Corresponding author http://gtg.webhost.uoradea.ro/ Svetlana ANDREYANOVA, Anna IVOLGA administrative and territorial division, the area is split into 9 regions. These include both Russian-speaking entities formed by Cossacks either voluntarily settled or exiled to this territory and national republics, where mostly indigenous Caucasian people live. Figure 1. The map of geographical location of the study area (Source: GPF – Geopolitical Futures, (2017), https://geopoliticalfutures.com/north-caucasus-russias-southern-buffer/_2017) Nowadays Russia possesses 258,3 thousand km² of the North Caucasus area (1,5% of the whole territory). This is one of the most rich recreation areas of the country. The diversity of natural, climate, balneological, ethnographic and other tourist resources promotes development of various types of tourism (Aleksandrov et al., 2015). Since ancient times, this region have been attracting the interest of different states and civilizations. Several directions of the Great Silk Route passed across this area. It was also a place of numerous grave mounds and burial grounds that contained unique artifacts. Megalithic ruins as ancient as Stonehenge were found there. Numerous migrations over the centuries made the ethnic map of the region on of the most confusing in the world. Only the Balkan Peninsula situated at the interface between Islamic and Christian civilizations can be considered as an analogue. Before studying the tourist heritage and existing modern tourist destinations of the region it is necessary to describe the administrative entities comprising it. This inductive approach (starting from the particular features of the regions before going to its general description) we let us to make the judgements on the current condition of tourist industry and prospects for the further development in conclusion. Stavropol Krai. In the late 18th century the main part of the southern border of the Russian Empire - the Azov-Mozdok defense line was constructed there. The settlements of Volga and Khopyor Cossacks were established in the border areas. At the same time in the east the Kuma river valley was occupied by the Nogai tribes, Turkic-speaking people, whose main occupation was distant-pasture cattle tending. Geographic location of Stavropol Krai determined the diversity of landscape and geographical belts – from the 348 The Tourism Potential of the North Caucasus: The Formation, Characteristics and Development Prospects Stavropol highland and Strizhhament mountain in the west (max. 850 m) to the Terek– Kuma lowland in the east (less than 100 m). This difference in altitude leads to diversity of climate zones and floral belts – starting from the mild one to the semi desert. In the south of the region, where the shoots of the Caucasus begins locates the most famous Russian balneotherapeutic health resort – Caucasian Spas (Polyakova, 2015). Thus, the area of the region can be provisionally divided into three zones: 1. the west – the regional center Stavropol city is located there. It can offer a big variety of architectural monuments. There are also thermal springs in the neighborhood of Kazminka village, a number of farms and guesthouses designed mainly for weekend break of Stavropol dwellers. 2. the south – where the health resort of Caucasian Spas with well developed net of medical and recreational centers is situated. There are also many places related to world- renowned Russian poets. The unique geological features of this area provide a certain level of so-called medicinal radiation emanated from Beschtaunite magmatic rock. That is the factor that gives the local climate special medicinal features. 3. the east is an area of nomadic Nogai peoples and traditional wine production in the Kuma river valley. Currently the viticulture traditions are revived due to the famous brandy producer in Praskoveya. There lives a unique ethnic community of Nekrasov Cossacks returned to Russia from Turkey in 1960s. Nowadays there is an ethnic and cultural complex of Nekrasov Cossacks. It is interesting to mention that the total area of Stavropol Krai is bigger than the one of the Netherland. Considering rather vivid ethnic composition, one can see the wide range of tourist resources. All these factors create strong potential for tourism development. Krasnodar Krai. Throughout history, this territory belonged to indigeneous Cherkes people and their ancestors – the Zygians, the Cercetae, the Maeotians, the Shapsugs and others. After expansion of Russia to this area it became home for the Kuban Cossack Host named after the Kuban River, the main waterway of this region. The references to the Kuban River can be found in writings of the Scythians, the Sarmatians, the early Slavs, the Greeks and the Romans. The region has a vast coastline along the Black Sea. That results in the diversity of climate zones – from temperate one to subtropics. Uniqueness of regional climate is one of the reasons of the developed viticulture in this area of the North Caucasus. Nowadays Krasnodar Krai offers tourists the largest number of wine routes in Russia. Currently the wine map of the area consists of 14 wine route, each of which includes different activities: training workshops, degustation and winemaking. The other important feature of this area is unique archeological and cultural heritage – dolmen megalithic monuments at the coast of the Black Sea. Together with the natural heritage they create huge variety of cultural and ecological routes. It is obvious that access to the sea and prolific climate made this region the most popular one among the Russians for having beach-related rest. The center of Winter Olympic Games 2014, Sochi city region is also located in the region. The infrastructure facilities constructed for the Games attract additional tourist flows to Rosa Khutor ski resort and extreme park, seaside complexes in Adler and Central Sochi (Too, 2014). The Republic of Adygeya. Until fairly recently this region was an area of a single folk located inside Krasnodar Krai. The native people there are the Circassians including the Adyghe people. Provisionally the area of the region can be divided into three types: lowlands, piedmont plain and highlands. The last one is occupied with the Lago- Naki plateau by 90%. The latter is famous for its alpine meadows and numerous hiking routs developed back in the 1920-s. One of the most popular routs is the Route №30 – as a family route of low difficulty level to the seaside through the mountains. Its duration varies from 20 to 5 days depending on the passes and pathways chosen. 349 Svetlana ANDREYANOVA, Anna IVOLGA Uniqueness of natural heritage of the plateau creates microclimate of highland Switzerland in some of its parts. Mountain rivers with pure mineral water and beautiful landscapes become a perfect base for heath tourism. The region is also popular for water tourism organized on the Belaya river, the main Republic’s waterway. Teams from America, Africa, Western Europe and Russia arrive to Adygeya annually to take part in rafting, catamaran and kayaking competitions (Shadova, Tappaskhanova, Abrhám, Zumakulova, 2015). At the same time event tourism gain popularity. The region becomes a venue for the fest of amateur song named “Pervotsvet” and the festival of bard song “Azish-tau”. The Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Currently the tourist areas of the Republic are the most popular ones for weekend breaks among the population of the North Caucasus region. There are such ski resorts as Dombai and Arkhiz. The average altitude of the mountains is about 3-4 thousand meters and this means the resorts are located in highlands with all year round snowpack and partially glaciated slopes. The bigger part of the Caucasus state wildlife biosphere reserve named after Kh.G.
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