Sustainable Development Opportunities Driven by Geotourism in the Republic of Bashkortostan (Toratau Geopark, Republic of Bashkortostan, the Russian Federation)

摘要

This article presents a proposal for the development of the Toratau Geopark in the Republic of Bashkortostan in the Russian Federation.This proposal is based on the broad appeal of the geopark’s unique natural objects,including hills known as“shikhans”and the Usolka section(GSSP1),which has been cited as a new stratigraphic unit of global significance.The article describes the proposed approach to the spatial,infrastructural,and experiential development of the territory as a centre for geotourism.The article concludes that the proposed geopark model is beneficial for the development of the region’s local and indigenious communities,economy,and entrepreneurship.