THE ROLE OF NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES OF THE SOUTHERN SLOPE OF THE GREATER CAUCASUS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECOTOURISM

Abstract

The nature of the Caucasus is extremely rich and unique. The Caucasian mountainous country combines a variety of natural conditions. The relief alternates with powerful alpine systems, areas with hilly relief, plateaus and lowlands. Climatic conditions vary from sharply continental to humid subtropical. On the territory of the Caucasus Mountains, you can find eternal snows and glaciers, coniferous, broad-leaved and subtropical forests give way to steppe and semi-desert spaces. Due to its unique natural conditions, the Caucasus has a high potential for recreational balneological resources. Historically, the Caucasus has taken a leading position in terms of the number of various resorts in various directions. The recreational resources of the Caucasus are represented by warmth, sea air, an abundance of sunlight (direct and reflected from the water surface), clean air with the smallest drops of sea salt and iodine, saturated with ozone and oxygen and, as a result, have healing properties for the cure of many diseases. The southern slope of the Greater Caucasus is much shorter than the northern one and therefore drops abruptly to the south. The southern slope of the Greater Caucasus has the best conditions for the development of sanitary and resort facilities and many types of recreation and tourism. This is due to the favorable natural balneological and recreational resources, their diversity. The unique geographical position of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, the complexity of its geological and geomorphological structure, the richness of natural resources, as well as belonging to one of the most ancient centers of civilization in the world has led to the existence of a large number of rare ecotourism objects and thus created ample opportunities for the development of this modern, perspective and profitable sphere. The region, with its unique natural and historical features, is important for ecotourism. Natural monuments of ecotourism of the researched area attract attention with a variety of origins, rarity, aesthetics and exotic landscapes, and are also of particular interest for their rarity. In this respect, the study area has more ecotourism potential than other parts of the country.