Prehistoric stone objects of cultural heritage as a resource for the development of tourism in the Russian Arctic

Abstract

Abstract The article presents new tourism resources in the Arctic: stone structures, natural sculptures and objects of mixed natural and man-made origin. In the process of research of stone objects of the Arctic, the authors used standard geographical approaches and methods (adapted in physical and social geography), which ensure the identification of the relationship of stone objects with the landscape-geographical and socio-cultural environment, allow us to determine their rational functions in the geo-cultural sphere in the past and present. As a result of the research, the authors made a number of conclusions. Firstly, for the development of tourism in the Arctic region, large anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and objects of various geometric shapes that are very attractive for travelers should be included in organized routes. Many of them are available for observation as they stand out well in the landscape and are located on traditional and relevant to our time water-drag routes: on watersheds, along river valleys and seacoasts. Ancient legends and customs of the indigenous peoples of the North are often associated with such objects. Many of them are well oriented on the sides of the horizon, which allows you to use them as a sundial-calendar. Secondly, the rational use, conservation and expansion of tourism resources should be accompanied by the organization of integrated research on a geographical basis. Thirdly, solving the problem of genesis in ancient stone objects of the Arctic will make it possible to clarify modern models of geomorphological processes, reconstruction of the development of nature and culture, which will contribute to the successful development of the territory in the context of global warming.