Структура и размещение сети горнолыжных комплексов Большого Урала

Ski specialization of the Urals is becoming more and more noticeable. This tourist-recreational sphere develops in the wooded areas of the Mid Ural, Southern Ural and surroundings. Traditions established during the Soviet period, a significant proportion of urban and highly educated population, suitable natural resources, location of the large industrial cities in the Ural Mountains are factors contributing to the development of this service sector. Since the activities of ski resorts are highly dependent on a variety of conditions and components (geomorphological, climatic, landscape-ecological, positional, transportation, infrastructure, service, etc.), the methodology of their research must consider the numerous characteristics. Among the one hundred of ski resorts currently operating in 11 regions of the Urals, three-quarters are located fairly dispersed in four regions: Perm krai, Sverdlovsk oblast, Chelyabinsk oblast and in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Perm krai is the leader in the Urals by the number of ski resorts. Almost half of all ski centers in the Perm krai are located near Perm, but the largest complexes are located further 150 km from the regional center in the Middle Urals. Small enterprises are in the southern part of the region within the boundaries of non-central cities and in rural areas. Within the main cities of the Greater Urals, there are 9 ski resorts providing daily services, 25 are in the 10-60-kilometer zone from the capitals. The largest number of ski resorts (46) refers to those located at a distance from the administrative centers of the regions, but geographically tied to cities of considerable size. In rural areas of the Urals, 14 resorts operate. The geographical features of the ski resorts’ network compel us to consider this activity as one of the main future sectors of tourism in the Urals.