Typology of mountain settlements in North Ossetia and the main directions of their sustainable development

Abstract

Relevance. The article is devoted to a very urgent problem of the typology of mountain settlements related to the dynamics of the population of the studied settlements. Aim. This implies the purpose of the study: the typology of mountain settlements in order to determine the directions of their further sustainable development. One of the most important methods in geography is the typology of certain objects of research, processes and phenomena occurring in society. Methods. In order to identify the main directions of development of mountain settlement, the method of typology and classification of mountain settlement based on the works of G.M. Fedorov was applied. The typology allows you to identify the characteristic features of the object and determine the main directions of its further development. The typology is carried out in many areas, including geographical location, the height of the place above sea level, factors and main stages of formation, development and functioning, population dynamics, administrative status, settlement functions, employment, features of the use of natural conditions and resources, types and forms of land use, etc. Population dynamics is estimated by two inter-census periods, between 2002 and 2020. This fully applies to mountain settlements and is the most accurate tools characterizing settlements. Results. During the study, five types of mountain settlements were identified, each of which has its own characteristics in terms of population dynamics, geographical location, status, and functions. This article examines the types of urban settlements and determines the ways of their development. The typology made it possible to identify the main directions of sustainable development of each of the identified types of mountain settlements.