RELIEF IN THE STREET NAMES AND IN THE PERCEPTION OF URBAN SPACE (CITIES OF THE CHERNOZEM’E AS AN EXAMPLE)

Abstract

Of 4100 names in the 5 largest cities of Chernozem’e (Voronezh, Lipetsk, Kursk, Belgorod, Tambov) related to landforms (morphogodonims) the maximum number is in Kursk (3.8% of total street number), the minimum number – in Belgorod (0.9%), though the territory of the latter has the most complex morphology. It indicates an absence of correlation between relief complexity and morphogodonims frequency in the cities which differ historically and administratively. Morphogodonims are situated by the most part in the places with prominent relief. In the large towns of Chernozem’e there is a tendency for the morphogodonims to disappear: the new streets aren’t named by relief features and old names are frequently changed to new ones not related to land surface morphology.