SPATIAL PECULIARITIES OF THE SETTLEMENT SYSTEM OF DNIPROPETROVSK REGION AS OF 01.01.2022

Abstract

Problem Statement and Purpose. The purpose of the study: to identify the state and spatial differences in the settlement system of the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region on the eve of Russian military aggression. This will enable to understand the main socio-geographical realities that have developed by the beginning of the aggression, for the further restoration of the system of settlement of the territory in the post-war period, taking into account the peculiarities and problems that have taken place. Data &Methods. The study used methods for calculating quantitative and relative indicators of the state of the regional settlement system and a comparative analysis of the assessment results. Results. For Dnipropetrovsk region as a whole, and for each of its administrative districts separately, the population density, the average population density ofsettlements, the average density of settlements, the average distance between them, the index of leadership of the administrative centers of districts, the level of urbanization of the territory by the share of the urban population and by thehierarchical method of O. Tereshchenko have been calculated. According to these indicators, spatial differences in the system of settlement of the administrative districts of the region have been revealed. The systems of urban settlements in the administrative districts of the region are characterized by significant differentiation. This is especially evident when using a hierarchical approach to determine the level of urbanization. The regional systems of rural settlements in the region have smoother differences in terms of similar indicators in comparison with the systems of urban settlement. In general, the settlement systems of the administrative districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region had significant differences in key indicators, such as the area of the territory, the number and density of the population, the number of settlements. At the same time, in terms of the density of settlements and the average distance between them, the differences are less vivid. However, it should be pointed that the vivid differentiation of settlement systems cannot be considered a positive consequence of the administrative-territorial reform.