gesjGEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITYGEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY2071-93882542-1565Russian Geographical Society10.24057/2071-9388-2022-108gesj-2727Research ArticleRESEARCH PAPERСтатьиPrielbrusye National Park Environmental Changes Due To Increasing Tourism ActivityCherkasovaAnna A.

Novaya Ploshchad, 10, bld. 2, 109012, Moscow

IurmanovAnton A.

Novaya Ploshchad, 10, bld. 2, 109012, Moscow, 

st.Botanicheskaya, 4, Moscow, 127276

KokanePravin

Department of Geography

Santacruz East 400098, Maharashtra

MaslakovAlexey A.

Faculty of Geography

Leninskie Gory, 1, 119991, Moscow

alexey.maslakov@geogr.msu.ruPetkovichMatija

Faculty of Biology

Studentski trg, 16, 11158, Belgrade

PetrushinaMarina N.

Faculty of Geography

Leninskie Gory, 1, 119991, Moscow

TabelinovaAida

Faculty of Geography

st. Kazhymukan, 11, 010010, NurSultan

TolipovAzamatYakubovGeorgyYushinaYulia

st. Kabanbai batyr/Pushkin, 67/99, Almaty, 050010

All-Russian non-governmental organization Russian Geographical SocietyRussian FederationAll-Russian non-governmental organization Russian Geographical Society; Main Botanical Garden named after N. V. Tsitsin RASRussian FederationUniversity of MumbaiIndiaLomonosov Moscow State UniversityRussian FederationUniversity of BelgradeSerbiaLomonosov Moscow State University, Kazakhstan BranchKazakhstanUnaffiliated with an organizationRussian FederationInstitute of Geography and Water SecurityKazakhstan202218012023154115123Copyright © Cherkasova A.A., Iurmanov A.A., Kokane P., Maslakov A.A., Petkovich M., Petrushina M.N., Tabelinova A., Tolipov A., Yakubov G., Yushina Y., 20232023Cherkasova A.A., Iurmanov A.A., Kokane P., Maslakov A.A., Petkovich M., Petrushina M.N., Tabelinova A., Tolipov A., Yakubov G., Yushina Y.Cherkasova A.A., Iurmanov A.A., Kokane P., Maslakov A.A., Petkovich M., Petrushina M.N., Tabelinova A., Tolipov A., Yakubov G., Yushina Y.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://ges.rgo.ru/jour/article/view/2727

Prielbrusye National Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Russia. In recent years internal tourism development, stimulated by restrictive measures (due to the COVID pandemic and geopolitical situation), resulted in significant growth of tourist flow to the national park’s territory. A surge in anthropogenic load on the park’s geosystems might degrade them and lead to environmental pollution. This research involved chemical studies of natural waters and snow from the south slope of the Elbrus and audit of the most popular tourist trails. The results have shown that in the snow alongside mountain hiking pistes to the Elbrus all the way up to 4,720 m above sea level (a.s.l.) oil stains concentration is up to 38 times higher than maximum acceptable concentration (MAC). Content analysis of heavy metals in snow cover on the Elbrus slopes and in the river Baksan has shown a significant rise in lead load over the period of 2015–2021 from the trace levels to 1.5 MAC, which is the result of increased anthropogenic load on the south slope of the Elbrus mountain. Ground observation of tourist trails has brought to light numerous patches of vegetation trampling, width extension and branching of the main trail, as well as campfire sites. The research results can be used as a rationale to take measures to reduce recreational load, to improve local geosystems’ condition and to develop a plan of action on nature conservation within the park’s territory.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.