TRANSPORT AND SETTLEMENT STRUCTURES OF ZABAYKALSKIY KRAY IN THE INTERNATIONAL CROSS-BORDER ECOLOGY-CENTERED REGION OF THE EASTERN JUNCTION POINTS OF THE BORDERS OF RUSSIA, MONGOLIA, AND CHINA

Abstract

The relevance of the problem of the spatial mutual cross-border structuring of border territories at the junction points of the state borders of the three countries under study is conditioned by the need for their economic, cultural and environmental integration. The purpose of the article is to identify the role of the near-border position (in reference to Mongolia and China) in the formation of transport and settlement structures of Zabaykalskiy kray in the international cross-border three-link region of the eastern junction point of the borders of Russia, Mongolia, and China. The leading approach to the problem study is the territorial and structural method implemented in three stages: identification of near-border spatial differentiation of transport and settlement structures of Zabaykalskiy kray in reference to the state border line (in this case – in reference to the China-Russia border) and in reference to the eastern junction point of the borders of Russia, Mongolia and China; representation of this differentiation as cartographic anamorphoses (distortions); anamorphoses transformation into two ideal models (radial and orthogonal). The radial model prevails in the dialectic interaction of effects of two ideal models in Zabaykalskiy kray, since, apart from the density rate of transport and settlement structures, quite a few characteristics are subjected to its influence and the central reserve transforms the international cross-border three-link region into an ecology-centered region. Article materials may be of use when searching for a compromise for the problem of mutual territorial planning at the junction point of state borders of the three countries.