European Geographical Studies

4-16

Authors: Jelisavka Bulatović, Goran Rajović

Sustainable development involves meeting the needs of human societies while maintaining viable biological and physical Earth systems. To attract responsible exploration and mining, governments of mining nations will need to provide: regional – scale geo – scientific datasets as required to attract and guide future generations of exploration; resource access through multiple and sequential land use regimes, and frameworks for dealing with indigenous peoples' issues; and arrangements for consideration of mining proposals and regulation of mines that ensure responsible management of environmental and social issues. The minerals industry will need to continue to pursue advances in technologies for exploration, mining, processing, waste management and rehabilitation, and in public reporting of environmental and social performance (Lambert, 2001).

26-35

Authors: Elizbar Sh. Elizbarashvili, Mariam E. Elizbarashvili, Shalva E. Elizbarashvili, Zurab B. Chavchanidze, Nana Z. Chelidze, Vladimir E. Gorgisheli

Based on the materials of observation of 40 meteorological stations of Georgia for the period between 1936–2013, research has been made of statistical structure of the number of hot days, when the maximum temperature is higher than 35OC. The change of the annual number of hot days with the altitude, the repeatability of different grades, the distribution of the number of hot days with temperatures varying gradations for the summer months, the duration of high temperatures are studied. It is established that with the increase of altitude of the site the annual number of hot days naturally decreases and at an altitude of about 2300 m there are no hot days. In the plain territory of Georgia, the number of hot days is more than 70, in the low-mountain zone is decreased to 60, and in the middle mountain zone it is less than 60. The annual number of very hot days, when the maximum temperature exceeds 35OC, reaches 7 in the Kolkheti lowland, 5 on the plains of East Georgia, and 1-2 days per year in the coastal and lowland zones. On the Black Sea coast, high temperatures (more than 25 OC) last for 4-5 hours, in the inner regions of the Kolkheti lowland their average duration is 9 hours, in the eastern arid part of Georgia, duration of temperature of more than 25 OC increases to 10-11 hours, and in the lowland zone The Caucasus is reduced to 3-4 hours.

43-58

Authors: Vladimir S. Tikunov, Leniana F. Yanvareva

The paper describes a 300-year history of thematic cartography in Russia, which began in the first half of the XVII century. Special attention is given to atlas mapping that was first implemented at end of the XIX century. The most prominent examples are the Great Soviet World Atlas and Physical Atlas of the World. The National Atlas of Russia (in four volumes) is described in detail. The role of integrated regional atlases of the country is demonstrated. The modern thematic cartography in the country is focused on mapping seas, oceans, and environment, and creation of maps for higher educational institutions.