GEO-TOURIST SITES AND ROUTES IN THE TERRITORY OF SAMBIR-KHYRIV TERRACE FOOTHILLS

Abstract

The geological and geomorphological objects of Sambir-Khyriv terrace foothills have been characterized as natural monuments and potentially popular geo-touristic sites. The foothills cover the pre-Carpathian sections of the Stryvihor and Dniester valleys, the entire Bolozivka valley and the uplands of the interfluves. The main geomorphological elements of the study area are river valleys with a complex of river terraces of different ages. Outside the valleys, in the uplands of the interfluves, the most ancient foothill terraces and different-aged denudation leveling surfaces are spread. Relief-forming deposits of the foothills are mainly represented by Neogene and Anthropogenic accumulations. The anthropogenic depositsoverlapping the older accumulations are extremely heterogeneous in terms of genesis, age, and lithological structure. Within the foothills, the most valuable natural monuments are the following objects: sections of anthropogenic accumulations Slokhyni, Torhanovychi 1 and 2 and Kruzhyky, as well as landforms, i.e. a fragment of Krasna surfacedeveloped on the eastern macro-slope of RadychMountain and the western part of the Bolozivka valley. We identify the listed objects as stratigraphic and geochronological (sections of Slokhyni, Torhanovychi 1 and 2 and Kruzhyky), paleontological (section of Kruzhyky), geomorphological (surface of Krasna, Bolozivka valley),and scenic natural monuments (surface of Krasna). Foothill natural monuments are important in terms of research and geo-educational functions, in particular to study and illustrate stratification of sedimentary accumulations of anthropogenic age; lithological and sedimentological features of continental deposits; variability of paleogeographic conditions of anthropogenic age; cyclicityof continental morpholithogenetic processes; formation of exogenic forms of relief due to denudation shearing of uneven surface of the Earth, erosion and accretion activity of fluvial flows; soil-forming processes; and geological age of human material culture. The described natural monuments are important for the organization of events intended to popularize geological and geographical science, as well as environmental education among people, and teach the skills of careful attitude to the environment. It would befeasible to integrate them into the existing network of tourist routes inLviv region. Key words: Sambir-Khyriv terrace foothills; natural monuments; sections of anthropogenic deposits; surface of Krasna; Bolozivka valley.