Prielbrusye National Park Environmental Changes Due To Increasing Tourism Activity
Abstract
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.
About the Authors
Anna A. Cherkasova
All-Russian non-governmental organization Russian Geographical Society
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Novaya Ploshchad, 10, bld. 2, 109012, Moscow
Anton A. Iurmanov
All-Russian non-governmental organization Russian Geographical Society;
Main Botanical Garden named after N. V. Tsitsin RAS
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Novaya Ploshchad, 10, bld. 2, 109012, Moscow,
st.Botanicheskaya, 4, Moscow, 127276
Pravin Kokane
University of Mumbai
India
India
Department of Geography
Santacruz East 400098, Maharashtra
Alexey A. Maslakov
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Faculty of Geography
Leninskie Gory, 1, 119991, Moscow
Matija Petkovich
University of Belgrade
Serbia
Serbia
Faculty of Biology
Studentski trg, 16, 11158, Belgrade
Marina N. Petrushina
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Faculty of Geography
Leninskie Gory, 1, 119991, Moscow
Aida Tabelinova
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Kazakhstan Branch
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Faculty of Geography
st. Kazhymukan, 11, 010010, NurSultan
Azamat Tolipov
Unaffiliated with an organization
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Georgy Yakubov
Unaffiliated with an organization
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Yulia Yushina
Institute of Geography and Water Security
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
st. Kabanbai batyr/Pushkin, 67/99, Almaty, 050010
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Review
For citations:
Cherkasova A.A., Iurmanov A.A., Kokane P., Maslakov A.A., Petkovich M., Petrushina M.N., Tabelinova A., Tolipov A., Yakubov G., Yushina Yu. Prielbrusye National Park Environmental Changes Due To Increasing Tourism Activity. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2022;15(4):115-123. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2022-108
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