Natural factors of tourism development in the Greater Caucasus physical geographical province of Azerbaijan

The article discusses the natural factors that determine the possibilities of developing all the main types of tourism and recreational activities in the Greater Caucasus physical geographical province of Azerbaijan. Since natural tourism resources are used for various tourism purposes and ensure further growth of the country’s economy, their study is relevant. All components of the natural factors of the Greater Caucasus physical geographical province were studied by analyzing various works of local and foreign researchers. The attractiveness of the area for tourism and climatic indicators of the regions by the degree of comfort are studied. Considering that the health effect of the landscape is associated with vegetation, water bodies determine the placement of tourism and recreational systems, and forests perform recreational functions, their study is of great importance. As part of the Strategic Roadmap Development of Specialized Tourism Industry in Azerbaijan and with the goal of developing various types of tourism, villages characterized by excellent natural conditions for the development of rural tourism have been identified. In the study of specially protected areas in the Greater Caucasus physical geographical province, key factors of sustainable development were taken into account in the Shahdag National Park. Due to the activities of various farms on the north-eastern slope of the Greater Caucasus, plant groups of great importance and vulnerability were identified. In the study of natural factors, a comparison was made between the Greater Caucasus and Lesser Caucasus physical-geographical provinces in terms of vegetation, fauna and forest. The study determined the tourism importance of reservoirs located in the Greater Caucasus physical geographical province from an aesthetic perspective. In the course of a comprehensive analysis of natural factors, zoning of the territory of the Greater Caucasus physical geographical province was carried out and the most favorable areas, favorable areas and unfavorable areas were identified. Zoning based on the analysis of natural factors of tourism development in the Greater Caucasus physical geographical province can be used in the development of new tourist and recreational zones, drawing up tourism programs and planning tourism development. The results obtained during this comprehensive study can be used to organize tourism activities in other mountainous provinces of Azerbaijan.