Geological Monuments of Transnistria: Types, State, Economic Use

Abstract

Geological monuments are a special type of natural monuments that reflect the features of the geological structure of the territory and the peculiarities of the occurrence of layers of the earth’s crust, the composition of rocks and minerals. In the relief geological monuments are expressed by various geomorphological objects and rock outcrops. The presence in them of unique remains of fossil flora and fauna gives particular value to geological monuments. The territory of Transnistria as a region on the left bank of the Dniester within the Republic of Moldova has the peculiarity of geological monuments. This territory mainly has a flat relief character, but in the north of Transnistria, the spurs of the Podolsk Upland have created here rocky forms, similar in manifestation features to the mountainous terrain. These features determined the presence in the region of a number of specific geological monuments that require identification, analysis and systematic monitoring of their qualitative state and changes under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors.