Vol. 60 No. 2 (269) (2026)

This study explores approaches to improving the efficiency of exploration for gold, polymetallic, and porphyry copper deposits within the Lori, Stepanavan, and Pambak-Tsaghkunyats ore districts of the Republic of Armenia. An integrated analysis of the geological framework, gravity, aeromagnetic, and geochemical survey data, combined with GIS-based techniques, was used to identify the principal ore-controlling factors governing the distribution of endogenous mineralization. The locations of several fault structures were refined, previously unrecognized concealed circular and arcuate structures were delineated, and their relationships with known mineral occurrences were established. The spatial association of gold, polymetallic, and porphyry copper mineralization with specific gravity anomalies, major fault zones, and intrusive complexes of different compositions was demonstrated. Several prospective target areas for detailed exploration were identified, and a preliminary assessment of their mineral potential was conducted. The results obtained may be applied to mineralization forecasting, and the planning of future geological exploration programs.

The article examines the theoretical and methodological foundations of geotourism development and the formation of pilot geoparks based on modern integrated approaches. The main objective of the study is to develop a well-defined framework for assessing the geotourism potential of territories through the synthesis of the ABC (Abiotic, Biotic, Cultural) concept and the GAM (Geosite Assessment Model) quantitative model. The proposed methodology reduces expert subjectivity through a structured semi-quantitative assessment procedure by separating the Main Values of geosites from the Additional Values. Projecting the calculated data onto a two-axis 9-zone GAM matrix enables strategic screening of the area, identification of the geopark's sustainable "core", and definition of investment priorities. The paper substantiates the strategic importance of localizing this model for the Republic of Armenia as an effective tool for geoconservation and the socio-economic sustainable development of remote and border communities.

The paper examines approaches to low-emission spatial planning for small industrial towns in the Republic of Tatarstan, using Mendeleevsk and Zainsk as comparative case studies. The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that, under the transition to low-carbon development, the environmental burden in small towns is distributed unevenly and is shaped by sectoral specialization, the structure of stationary and mobile emission sources, energy infrastructure, and the spatial relationship between industrial zones and residential areas. The empirical basis of the study includes strategic and spatial-planning documents, the Heat Supply Scheme of Zainsk, regional environmental analytical materials, and data on stationary emission sources. The comparison is carried out using a unified framework that includes the number of stationary emission sources, the volume and sectoral profile of emissions, dominant sources of pollution, infrastructure conditions, spatial-planning constraints, and potential instruments of municipal implementation. Available environmental materials indicate that Mendeleevsk has about 649 stationary emission sources and approximately 3.709 thousand tons of stationary-source emissions, with the fuel and chemical sectors forming the main industrial contribution; Zainsk has about 1 071 stationary sources, including 1 061 within the town, and about 11.741 thousand tons of stationary-source emissions, including 11.728 thousand tons within the town. It is established that Mendeleevsk represents a type of small town with a chemical-industrial core, where priority measures include technological decarbonization, modernization of gas-cleaning systems, stricter environmental monitoring, and spatial regulation of zones adjacent to industrial sites. Zainsk is characterized by a combination of power generation, heat supply, transport flows, and agro-processing, which requires modernization of generating capacities, optimization of district heating, energy-efficiency measures, and circular solutions based on industrial symbiosis. The paper concludes that low-emission planning in small industrial towns should be differentiated by territorial type and embedded in municipal strategic, spatial-planning, infrastructure, and monitoring systems.

The study of tree and shrub vegetation in the Yerevan section of the Hrazdan Gorge, covering an area of 276.8 ha, revealed the distribution patterns of native and introduced species, a critically low level of natural regeneration, widespread occurrence of pests and plant diseases, and the adverse effects of anthropogenic factors. During the research, a population of Alcea sophiae, a species listed as endangered in the Armenian Plants Red Book, was identified. The study proposes a comprehensive set of measures, including the control of invasive species, restoration of areals of native species, establishment of monitoring programs, and long-term ecosystem preservation to ensure biodiversity stability.

This paper presents the testing of an autonomous system for measuring water levels in a body of water using a hydrostatic level gauge. A technical description of the system's components, assembly, and operation are provided. The system's startup and calibration processes, conducted on the Oredezh River in the Leningrad Region, are described. The article presents the initial results of the system's operation and identifies further steps for optimizing its performance.

The study presents results of analyzing changes in the hydrological cycle across the territory of Belarus for 1945–2025 and projections for the period 2025–2050 under the SSP2 RCP4.5 scenario. Annual precipitation shows no significant trend, but summer precipitation decreases by 2–3 mm per decade, accompanied by a 30% increase in the frequency of heavy rainfall. Total evaporation has been increasing since 2004, which is not synchronized with the onset of climate warming. Water resources generated within the country have decreased by 17% over the last 10–15 years. In river regimes, winter runoff continues to increase while spring floods decrease; the frequency of hydrological droughts during the warm season has doubled. A 20% reduction in summer precipitation, a variation in total evaporation within 10%, and an average annual runoff close to the long term norm are projected, but with wide confidence intervals of 30–70%, which maintains the risk of extreme events, especially in the 2030s.

Climate change in hot and arid regions like Abadan poses a serious threat to food security and water resources. Accurate projections of future conditions are essential for developing effective adaptation strategies. In this study, the LARS-WG 8 model was applied using meteorological data from Abadan station (Iran) under three climate scenarios, SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5, for the year 2040. Interpretation of the climate data for 2023 and 2024 compared to future scenarios for 2040 (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5) at Abadan station reveals a clear trend of warming and seasonal shifts in precipitation. In July, maximum temperature rises from 47.2℃ (2024) to 48.7℃ (SSP5-8.5), while evapotranspiration drops from 393.5 mm to around 291–294 mm, a 25% reduction. December precipitation increases dramatically from 0.8 mm to 25.7 mm in SSP5-8.5, over 30 times higher. In contrast, rainfall in June remains zero across all scenarios. March precipitation declines from 45.0 mm to 19.1 mm in SSP2-4.5 (a 58% drop), while minimum temperature rises from 13.9℃ to 16.0–16.5℃ (about 15% increase). These shifts indicate higher temperatures, reduced summer evapotranspiration, and a concentration of rainfall in cooler months, directly affecting crop water needs and irrigation scheduling. Based on the results obtained, it is recommended that agricultural planning in Abadan move towards climate change-resistant cropping patterns, improve irrigation efficiency, and revise water allocation plans to take into account the increasing temperature and increasing concentration of precipitation in the cold months of the year.

Due to the lack of a dedicated meteorological station in the Tambukan Lakes area, alternative approaches are required to obtain reliable climate data. This study addresses this gap by applying spatial interpolation techniques. The methodology is further complicated by the region's intricate topography, which significantly affects local temperature distribution. The article presents the results of reconstructing mean annual air temperatures in the Tambukan Lakes area due to the absence of local meteorological station (MS) data. Using geoinformation technologies based on the LLRA (Linear Lapse Rate Adjustment) method, observations from seven nearest MS (1955–2025), and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model, the adjusted mean annual air temperatures for the lakes have been calculated. A comparison of the obtained values with the MS network data using Pearson's correlation coefficient has revealed the highest similarity with the station "Mineralnye Vody". Notably, the analysis demonstrated that despite the relatively short distance between the lakes and the "Mineralnye Vody" MS, systematic temperature differences persist due to elevation and local microclimatic conditions. This finding underscores the importance of elevation-based corrections rather than relying on raw station data. A detailed analysis has shown that the Tambukan Lakes area is systematically colder by 0.74℃, with a root mean square error of 0.8℃, which is considered acceptable. Annual precipitation totals have not been used as a primary criterion due to the complex relief of the Ciscaucasia Region, which influences air mass transport. The feasibility of using data from the "Mineralnye Vody" MS, for subsequent calculation of the water-salt balance of the lakes has been substantiated.

The paper considers the physical-geographical and climatic conditions formation of the river runoff of the rivers of Armenia. Two mountain rivers were considered Armenia – Arpa and Dzoraget. Relevance. Forecasts allow the most rational use of the country's water resources, as well as to prepare in advance for dangerous hydrological phenomena and these prevent or significantly reduce the damage, they cause to the people au pair. The purpose of the study is to test the mathematical models for mountainous and semi-mountainous rivers of Armenia and analysis of the results, obtained in the implementation of these models. For forecasting runoff of mountain rivers, an approach based on the application of dynamic models of daily water consumption formation. Used models presented as differential equations of the first and second order for predicting the process of changing characteristics river flow. As the initial data, water consumption for hydrological posts in Jermuk for 2018 and 2019 and for the city of Stepanavan for 2017 and 2018, average daily air temperature, sum daily precipitation, snow cover thickness according to weather stations "Jermuk" and "Stepanavan". Cost forecasting methods tested waters on the semi-mountain rivers of Armenia and on their analogues on the territory of Russia. For the Arpa and Dzoraget Rivers, the models of the first and second orders are insignificantly underestimate and overestimate the predicted values, respectively. When conducting verification forecasts of water discharges on the mountain Rivers Arpa and Dzoraget in the period of high water and rain floods, the best results are obtained by mathematical model in the form of a differential equation of the first order. This model does not take into account subsurface runoff. Revealed that with a short lead time, the model parameters can be optimized with a large error, for example, the coefficient responsible for snowmelt intensity. In general, dynamic models show a satisfactory result in assessing their effectiveness.

The article examines the physical, geographical and climatic conditions of changes in wind speed over Western Siberia. The direction and speed of wind in the troposphere are the result of the influence of atmospheric circulation and regional characteristics of the territory. Variability trends vary in different directions in different regions of the globe. A change in the wind regime may indicate a change in the radiation balance, accompanied by a change in the pressure in the atmospheric column above the region under study. This paper presents long-term variability of tropospheric wind speed in Western Siberia. Data were analyzed at the ground surface and at standard isobaric surfaces of 850 hPa, 700 hPa, 500 hPa, and 300 hPa at four stations in Western Siberia ("Aleksandrovskoye", "Barabinsk", "Novosibirsk", and "Kolpashevo") for the period 1975–2020. The study showed that temporal variability is synchronous across all tropospheric layers and is due to variations in macrocirculation processes. All stations demonstrate a tendency toward decreasing wind speed at all levels. Moreover, in the Northern part of Western Siberia, the decrease in wind speed is statistically significant throughout the troposphere. In the Northern Region at altitudes of 850–700 hPa, wind speed decreased more than in the Southern territory. The correlation coefficients of wind speed at the ground and in the troposphere are high and statistically significant with a probability of at least 99% at three of the stations under consideration. The decrease in wind speed in the troposphere at Northern latitudes may be due to ongoing climate warming, particularly noticeable in the Northern Regions, which has resulted in a decrease in pressure gradients between the Northern and Central regions of Western Siberia. In the Southern part of Western Siberia, the decrease in wind speed is more pronounced near the surface. Such variability in wind speed may influence climate change in the study region.

This brief study provides a comprehensive understanding of the impact of global climate change on processes in the cryolithosphere. At the same time, attention is paid to the initial and dependent phenomena and processes, which include solar activity, the degradation of permafrost, and the loosening of buildings and structures that make up the infrastructure. Taking into account specific extreme events arranged according to a cascade scenario, the vulnerability factor of industrial and social infrastructure located in territories affected by exogenous geocryological processes is indicated. The originality of this material is determined by a comprehensive understanding of the consistent mutual connection of exogenous events in nature and the technosphere, which is the environment for the emergence and development of a natural-technogenic emergency. The main conclusion of this study is the proven statement about the need to form an objective understanding of climate processes as part of a comprehensive predictive assessment of the state of social and industrial infrastructure, as a prerequisite for ensuring the sustainable state of a given territory.

The work is devoted to the study of internal phosphorus load in Ivan'kovskoe reservoir according to observations in 2020–2024. The calculation results are based on the experimental average data of mineral phosphorus flux from sediment sample studies, which were conducted in different seasons. The greatest phosphorus flux from sediments is associated mainly with periods of oxygen deficiency in the bot-tom layer and areas with sediments rich in organic matter. The use of the HRM-MSU mathematical model made it possible to calculate the duration of these periods in the absence of regular monitoring data. The internal phosphorus load is amount under other favorable conditions to 1646–1903 t Р-РО4/year and exceeds the external one.

The study was conducted to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of land degradation in the Shirak Region of Armenia for the period 2015–2025 using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) were applied in the research. Analyses performed within the QGIS geographic information system environment indicate that vegetation dynamics exhibit an unstable nature. This suggests that annual fluctuations in the index values (NDVI, SAVI) are largely driven by quantitative changes in atmospheric precipitation (climatic factor) rather than stable qualitative soil improvement or degradation. The application of the SAVI index, through the integration of a specific soil brightness correction factor (L=0.5), allowed mitigating the background soil effect and obtaining more accurate data for sparsely vegetated areas. It was revealed that the Southwestern part of the region (Ani community) is the most vulnerable: the intensive erosion processes observed here correspond with consistently low SAVI values, indicating deep soil degradation trends.

This scientific article introduces an automated methodology for detection and classification of characteristic terrain features using high-resolution laser scanning LiDAR (Lights, Detection and Ranging) data within a GIS-based analytical framework. The study aims to optimize the recognition of topographic key points and surface structures through a rigorously designed workflow that incorporates contour-driven segmentation, localized relief modeling, and closed-surface geometric analysis. The proposed approach significantly improves the precision of microrelief feature identification, while reducing subjectivity associated with manual interpretation. Consequently, the developed methodology provides a robust and efficient means of terrain characterization, demonstrating strong applicability in complex and heterogeneous mountainous environments.

The article analyzes the dynamics of temperature extremes in the Southern part of the Tuva Republic based on ERA5 – daily reanalysis data. The study focuses on the republic’s mountain ecosystems, which are highly sensitive to climate change. Trends in monthly extreme indices (minimum and maximum temperature minimums and maximums) as well as mean temperatures (average minimum and maximum temperature minimums and maximums) are analyzed. A comparative analysis was conducted for two periods: 1961–1990 and 1996–2025. Monthly trends were examined. It was found that the most intensive warming is characteristic of the April minimum temperature (1.2℃ per decade) and the October maximum temperature (0.8℃ per decade). The obtained results are important for forecasting the state of vulnerable natural systems and developing measures for their conservation.

The study proposes a solution to the problem of modifying ice forecasting, choosing two popular approaches: decision trees and a Naive Bayes classifier. The study focuses on rivers in the Lake Sevan basin, specifically the Dzknaget, Drakhtik, Pambak, Vardenis, and Bakhtak, which experience complex ice breakup and freezing processes. To schematize and combine the ice formation and breakup processes, dummy variables are used as forecast characteristics instead of the onset and end dates of ice events, with average ten-day air temperatures and water levels serving as independent parameters. According to satisfactory results, the proposed models perform less well in determining the end date of ice events; however, they are capable of handling small samples and the absence of functional relationships.

It is shown that the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme floods, as well as the activity of riverbed processes, are associated with global climate change and increased environmental management in the Amur River basin. Their influence has contributed to the transformation of geochemical cycles of trace elements in river runoff. Water turbidity and the distribution of heavy metal concentrations in the riverbed cross-section are determined by the morphological features of the channel, the proximity of pollution sources, and varying flow turbulence during different phases of the water regime. An increase in heavy metal concentrations in the upper layer of bottom sediments was revealed during the low-water period compared to the flood period. High water mineralization in the riverbed during floods is associated with the phenomenon of resuspension. The mechanisms and the relationship of these events with river water content are described. Geochemical series of metals and the characteristics of migration flows in the Amur River channel are characterized. It is established that channel processes and flow turbulence play a primary role in the distribution of pollutants.

Land is an essential natural resource, without which no human activity and, in general, life on the planet would be possible. Land has ecological, economic, and social significance, thanks to which it is used as a condition for human life. Land is a means of production. The rational and efficient use of any means of production contributes to the development and growth of a country's economy. The study analyzed the dynamics of changes in the area of land in populated areas in the Republic of Armenia in 2013–2022 (the study includes data up to 2022, as the RA Land Balance for 2022 was the last official publication). According to the study, the quantitative change in the above-mentioned land is due to a number of factors, including the transfer of land from other types of use to land in populated areas, an increase in construction volumes, measures aimed at modernizing residential areas, etc.

This paper briefly discusses the potential for using high-temporal-resolution chlorophyll fluorescence induction curves to assess the state of natural phytoplankton in meromictic waters of the White Sea and its resistance to H₂S.

The Republic of Kalmykia is the most arid region of the Southeastern European part of Russia, characterized by extremely low water availability and a specific genesis of surface water bodies. The density of the hydrographic network is only 0.05 km/km², and a significant part of the territory belongs to the drainless regions of the Western Caspian basin with a total area of 49.2 thousand km². Based on the analysis of cadastral data covering more than 400 lakes and ponds and their comparison with literary sources, the classification of reservoirs by origin was carried out. Three main genetic types have been identified: relict-estuarine (the dominant type inherited from the paleohydrographic network), artificial (ponds and reservoirs created to regulate runoff) and residual-delta (Volga delta). The distinct association of various types of reservoirs with large geomorphological structures has been established: the Manych hollow, the Caspian lowland, the Sarpinskoy system and the Ergeninsky upland. It is shown that the modern appearance of the hydrographic network of Kalmykia is formed by the interaction of paleogeographic factors and anthropogenic transformation of the 20th century. The systemic problems of cadastral accounting that require verification of field data have been identified. The purpose of this work is to perform a typification of Kalmykian reservoirs by origin based on the analysis of the original cadastral data and their comparison with published materials, establish patterns of their spatial distribution and determine the geomorphological association of various genetic types. The current stage is characterized by a deep anthropogenic transformation: a multiple increase in the water content of natural reservoirs due to the transfer of runoff, the creation of artificial reservoirs, and the integration of lakes into hydraulic engineering systems. Kalmykia is a unique testing ground for studying limnogenesis in arid conditions under intense anthropogenic influence.

This article examines the issue of assessing the climate vulnerability of the territory of the Republic of Belarus in the context of contemporary climate change. The methodological framework employed is a system of dimensionless climate indices that takes into account extreme and average values for air temperature, precipitation and wind speed. Calculations were performed using data from 45 meteorological stations for the period 1989–2024. The resulting values of the climate vulnerability index were used to classify the administrative regions of Belarus into four vulnerability degree: low, moderately low, medium and high. It was found that the most vulnerable areas are concentrated in certain Northern, North-Eastern and South-Western Regions of the country, whereas the Central and part of the South-Western Regions are characterized by lower index values. The results of the study have enabled the climatic zoning of the territory of Belarus and can be used in the development of regional measures for adaptation to climate change.

The aim of the work is to study and identify the impact of marketing communication tools on the perception of Gegharkunik Region as an attractive tourist destination. How the region is perceived among tourists depends on which marketing communication activities are the most emotional and viable. The work studied various marketing communication tools: advertising, public relations, sales promotion, integrated communication strategies, and their effectiveness in increasing the attractiveness of the region's tourism image. The work also studied possible options for cooperation between the public and private sectors to create a unified information platform.

Mountainous regions and countries are characterized by both diversity of rural settlement patterns and local complex types within relatively small areas and spatial variations in the characteristics, distribution, and physical appearance of individual settlements and settlement groups. In this regard, the Republic of Armenia is no exception and typical case. The article identifies the territorial differences, distinctive features, and characteristic patterns of the rural population, rural settlements, and the rural settlement system of the Republic of Armenia. A comprehensive geographical analysis of the territorial differences and key characteristics of rural settlement has been carried out by natural-economic Regions Ararat, Shirak, Gugark (Lori), Utik (Tavush), Sevan (Gegharkunik), Vayk, Zangezur (Syunik) and administrative provinces (Marzes). The revelation of the territorial differences and characteristic features of rural settlement pattern in the Republic of Armenia is important not only from a scientific and academic perspective but also for practical purposes. It provides a valuable basis for promoting the socio-economic development, governance and implementation of effective regional policies for the country's separate regions, provinces, communities, and rural settlements.

This study focuses on the validation of a comprehensive geological and environmental diagnostics methodology for assessing the condition of decentralized drinking water sources in order to improve safety and reduce environmental risks to the health of the population in the Lipetsk Region. The monitoring studies covered 63 settlements in 18 municipal districts of the Lipetsk Region. During field expeditions from 2025 to the winter of 2026, 119 water samples were collected from decentralized sources, including wells (39 samples), springs (21 samples), wells (12 samples), and water pumps (47 samples). A comprehensive assessment of the quality of the selected water samples was carried out based on the results of organoleptic (intensity of taste and odor, color, transparency, and presence of sediment) and chemical (12 indicators) analyses using classical and instrumental methods, including 6 indicators that are priority for water in the Lipetsk Region (total hardness, iron, manganese, boron, ammonia, and nitrate nitrogen). Organoleptic analysis showed that most often the quality of drinking water taken from decentralized sources does not meet the standards in terms of taste and odor intensity 15.13% and 15.97%, respectively, as well as in terms of water color (5.88%) and the presence of unacceptable sediment in the water (8.4%). The conducted studies have shown that, in general, for all 18 districts of the Lipetsk Region, the average concentrations of priority drinking water indicators meet the sanitary and hygienic standards for decentralized sources. However, in some samples, maximum concentrations of pollutants were recorded that exceed the multiplicity of standards by several times, reducing the quality of drinking water and the level of safety of its use: total hardness (1.01–1.9 MPC), iron (1.06–5.41 MPC), manganese (1.06–1.34 MPC), boron (1.02–3.6 MPC), ammonium (1.02–2.32 MPC) and nitrate nitrogen (1,01–1.85 MPC). The calculation of the population risk showed that about 3.21 thousand people, mostly rural residents of the Lipetsk Region, are at risk of health problems due to the consumption of water of inadequate quality. Based on the results of the study, recommendations were made to improve the safety of drinking water in the Lipetsk Region.

The results of long-term studies of biological productivity of natural and anthropogenic agricultural landscapes of the Republic of Tuva are presented. Phytomass reserves and vegetation products are considered as an important integral characteristic of the state of landscapes and an informative indicator of the effectiveness of optimal solutions in managing ecosystem dynamics – grass ecosystems, agrocenoses, forest fragments. It was revealed that forests form 95% of the phytomass, but only 46% of the production; grass ecosystems with an area of 20% create 48% of the production. It is shown that due to a short period of development of the region’s territory and a slight transformation of the environment, most landscapes retain their productive potential. In the context of the traditionally livestock-based development of the region’s economy, there is a significant reserve for optimizing the functioning of agricultural land, determined by the natural diversity of landscapes and the correct choice of farming priorities. The purpose of the study is to assess the reserves of phytomass and pure primary products of various landscapes of Tuva. The main objectives of the study are to assess the contribution of landscapes to the biopotential of the region, depending on the terrain, the combination of bioclimatic conditions and the uniqueness of the soil and vegetation cover.

Some trends have been identified in the tourism use of the European South of Russia. These include the stability of tourist flows, with the most significant flows directed to Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory, as well as the development of new coastal areas for tourism purposes. The latter is facilitated by the implementation of the "5 Seas and Lake Baikal" project for the development of domestic tourism, which has led to the creation of five new year-round resorts in the European South, attracting millions of tourists. Tourism has a positive impact on the economies of the regions, where it takes place, but it also has a negative impact on natural landscapes and often on transportation and public infrastructure and recreational potential. Measures have been proposed to minimize the negative effects of tourism. These include the need to strive for a more balanced distribution of tourist flows in space and time. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to assess the recreational potential of tourist centers and develop those with the highest potential, as well as to redirect tourist flows to regions with high recreational potential, but low level of its using. Achieving this goal will enable the development of various types of tourism.

The article analyses both contemporary urban development and planning features and problems in post-Soviet Union nations. This includes an exploration of both the history of socialist urban planning and the emergence of new spatial transformations following the collapse of the socialist structure within the Soviet Union. A key focus of the article is the effects of market-oriented reforms on the creation of socio-spatial inequality, infrastructure problems and the challenge of sustainable development. The second part of this research is an analysis of two former Soviet republic capitals: Yerevan and Tbilisi, showing similarities, as well as distinctive features, to the urban transformation process in these cities. The findings support the notion that the urban development trajectory of all former Soviet cities is the result of inherited spatial characteristics from the socialist era, institutional transformations following the collapse of the Soviet Union and current market conditions. To achieve effective urban development, it is necessary to integrate strategic planning and implement the principles of sustainable development into the urban development process.

This article assesses the geotourism potential of the Voghjaberd–Geghard area (Armenia) using GIS technologies and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). The assessment is based on an analysis of the relief, transport accessibility, hydrography, and spatial distribution of natural and cultural sites. The results revealed high potential for geotourism development in the Voghjaberd–Geghard area and allowed the identification of three geotourism clusters. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of using GIS and MCAD for assessing territories, planning sustainable geotourism development, and identifying sensitive areas.

The 21st century is marked by the rapid development of science and technology, clearly demonstrated by the unprecedented growth of artificial intelligence and machine learning in recent years. Within the framework of geographical science, geographic information systems (GIS) occupy a particularly important place, as they represent a synthesis of geography and modern information technologies. By offering extensive opportunities for the collection, analysis, and visualization of spatial data, GIS significantly expand the methodological toolkit of geography and support data-driven spatial thinking. At the same time, these technologies create favorable conditions for the integration of information technologies into public schools' education, enabling geography to be taught and perceived from a fundamentally new perspective. Based on the results of international research and contemporary educational practices, this article examines the current state of GIS education in public schools in the Republic of Armenia. Attention is given to identifying the main challenges related to the implementation of GIS in the school curriculum, including teachers' preparedness, technical and infrastructural limitations, and the content-related characteristics of existing educational materials. The study emphasizes the need for a systematic approach to GIS integration in secondary education and highlights the potential role of web-based GIS solutions in overcoming existing barriers.

This geo-analytical study, based on official data from the Real Estate Cadastre of the Republic of Armenia, examines the spatial structure of real estate transactions for 2024–2025. It examines purchases and sales by legal entities (with a particular focus on December 2025), secured transactions, leases, land transactions, and the purchase of apartments in multi-apartment buildings. A pronounced center-periphery market pattern is identified, with Yerevan serving as the absolute center of liquidity, capital concentration, and banking activity, while most marzes exhibit stagnation or decline. In December 2025, legal entities sold almost five times more properties than they bought, with the overwhelming majority of sales occurring in Yerevan. The overall 7.5% increase in secured transactions was driven exclusively by Yerevan and the surrounding Kotayk Region, forming a "collateral belt," outside of which real estate loses its financial functionality. The rental market contracted by 5.7%, with the decline correlated with distance from the capital and population outflow, with the exception of localized growth in Ararat and Syunik. Land transactions declined by 11.6% amid a 35.3% surge in apartment purchases, indicating a structural shift from individual development to consolidated multi-apartment housing, primarily in the capital's metropolitan area. The study concludes that spatial polarization is further developing: Yerevan and its surrounding suburbs are becoming the only zone of high liquidity, active secured lending, and sustainable transaction growth, while peripheral regions risk falling into a zone of market atrophy. The study presents two cartograms visualizing legal entity transactions and the intensity of transactions per 1000 people.

Botanical gardens are recognized not only as centers for biodiversity conservation and recreation but also as significant educational and scientific platforms with considerable potential for the training of tourism professionals. The aim of this study is to examine the role of botanical gardens in tourism education by analyzing the prerequisites and opportunities for their effective integration into educational programs. The study explores the diversity of flora and fauna in the botanical gardens of the Republic of Armenia and highlights the importance of their study and observation in the professional training of future tourism specialists. It further substantiates the essential role of botanical gardens in enhancing students' ecological and environmental knowledge, as well as in developing their professional competencies, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable tourism. The integration of botanical gardens into educational curricula enhances the effectiveness of the learning process while fostering the preparation of competitive professionals, who demonstrate environmental responsibility and possess a solid foundation of knowledge about the natural environment.

Thermal regime of rivers plays a great role in rivers ecological state. However, there are a lot of gaps in our knowledge about thermal regime of rivers and about long-term changes of water temperatures and river heat flow due to the scarcity of open-source water temperature data. During the past decade study of thermal regime of rivers has been focused on Arctic Region, primarily on North-East of Russia. Nowadays, we are expanding the spatial coverage of river thermal regime studies to the permafrost areas as regions with the most dynamic climate and landscape changes. Studied area includes territory of Russia North of 60 N, Russian parts of Baikal Lake and Amur River basins, basin of Okhotsk and Japan Seas and Russian part of Caucasus. For all these regions, except the Arctic and Caucasus, our investigations of the thermal regime of rivers are the first ones for the past 5–6 decades. We used monthly average water temperature data from more than 400 gauges on rivers in different landscape conditions for 1961–2022. Annual and monthly heat flux was estimated for data from 200 gauges. Change-point years for all studied characteristics, mean and standard deviations, changes after change-point years and in 1991–2020 in comparison with 1961–1990 were estimated. Moreover, the analysis of air and water temperature relations was carried out. Results are compared for different parts of permafrost zone and compared with Arctic non-permafrost areas. Very low values of the thermal runoff of the North Caucasus are shown. The regions in which local factors play a major role in shaping water temperature compared to climatic ones have been identified, the Baikal basin, for example.