ИСТИНА

Recent decades saw further development of the idea of zone - sector - belt structure of the Earth’s landscape sphere which includes several hierarchically subordinated natural-territorial levels. New theoretical studies and emergence of extensive information materials allowed starting the elaboration of a new (third-generation) map at the scales of 1:15 Mln to 1:5 Mln. A new classification of landscape units was suggested basing on the analysis of principal landscape-forming factors (climatic, lithogene and biogenic). A new cartographical model was developed specifying the following hierarchical levels: geographical belts, sectors, natural zones and sub-zones, classes and subclasses of landscapes. Classification criteria used for landscape systematization and mapping include both natural parameters (radiation balance, heat and moisture supply, structure of the vegetative period, biological productivity of vegetation, etc.) and anthropogenic indicators, thus providing for the evaluation of the geoecological state of landscapes (ecosystems of regional dimension).