Vol. 53 No. 2 (249) (2019)

The article deals with the issues of selection and application of geophysical methods related to improving the efficiency of studies of iron-bearing deposits of skarnmagnetite type, from the point of view of both field mapping and determining the elements of bedding of individual ore bodies and estimating forecasted reserves.

Soil samples from Yerevan geochemical survey were used for estimation the radioactivity levels due to natural radionuclides (K-40, Th-232, U-238). 52 urban and 8 background soil samples were analysed using gamma spectrometer (CANBERRA). Results sugested a dependence of spatial distribution of natural radionuclides on geological characteristics of Yerevan: in northern part, where volcanic rocks prevail, high levels of radioactivity have been detected, while in the southern parts, rich in sedimentary rocks, low radioactive levels predominate. The radiological hazard caused by the natural radionuclides in soils of Yerevan is insignificant.

The regularities of the spatiotemporal distribution of the temperature in the winter period in the Ararat valley and the foothill zone have been discussed, analyzed and clarified. In the article, daily data of actual observations of the hydrometeorological service over the temperature of armospheric air during the winter period were used as the source material. It was found out that in the study area the tendency of increasing the average and extreme minimum values of air temperature over the winter period is predominantly observed. That is, in the region there is a softening of winters.

Definite regularities have been revealed in the intensity of the dismemberment of the right-bank and left-bank slopes of the Marmarik River Valley by tributaries and ravines, in the ratio of the length and width of the basis of tributaries of the 2^nd and 3^rd order. The Marmarik River is one of the sixth order. The left tributaries have the most high orders. This ring of partition is explained by with the geological structure of the right-bank and left-bank slopes, the nature of their vegetation cover, as well as the steepness.

The Republic of Armenia (RA) is a typical mountainous country. Horizontal and vertical fragmentation of the area, severe climate conditions and other naturalgeographical phenomena narrow the inhabitation areal of RA. This factors directly and indirectly affect the development of rural areas. In the article, based on the analysis and generalization of factual and statistical data, the role of rural areas and settlement pattern in the development of mountainous and high mountainous areas is substantiated on the example of RA.

Over the past two decades, the problem of improving the administrativeterritorial division of RA at the local level has been in the focus of attention of researchers. The article presents suggestions for reorganization of unified communities in the border mountainous and high-mountainous regions of RA, considering the features of the territorial structure settlement of these areas at the local level.

Tourism industry experiencing rapid development. Its role is important in the processes of spatial organization of social life and the formation of sustainable human development. The main issue is the creation of a sustainable touristic model. In this matter, four principles of geographical approach can play an important part: territoriality, complex approach, concreteness and globality, which, with the integrated application of all components of the geographic environment, contribute to the creation of a sustainable tourism model.

Despite the process of globalization and overall integration, there is a tendency of increasing the value of local resources in the modern world. In positioning of tourist, objects media play one of the most important roles. Media create a kind of image of the positioned tourist destination. It is very important to understand which media channel serves this purpose most profitably. The review of various media channels leads to the conclusion, that not all media channels have the same impact on tourist product promotion. Competent and comprehensive positioning of tourist destinations is possible only with the participation of all media channels, considering the weight of each channel at each specific stage of tourist product promotion.

The article presents two methods for assessing the aesthetic properties of landscapes: by photography and by method of calculation. These methods can be used for various purposes.