Peculiarities of the Urban Settlement System in the Central Black Soil Region

Abstract

The purpose is to identify the peculiarities of the urban settlement system in the Central Black Soil Region as an important transit region of the country. Materials and methods. The article is based on the analysis of the Strategy of Spatial Development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030 with a forecast up to 2036, Strategies of socio-economic development of the regions of the studied region. The article uses theoretical provisions refl ecting the problems of spatial development of the country, the polarization of settlement, including urban, the analysis of regional settlement systems. Results and discussion. The development of the urban settlement system in the Central Black Soil Region is associated with the peculiarities of the nodal and linear elements that create the supporting framework. The main transport highways are described, at the intersection of which settlements are located, supporting the socio-economic potential of the region and ensuring the effi cient use of transport infrastructure. It has been revealed that Voronezh is a key settlement hub in the Central Black Soil Region. From it, the urban areas extend to a signifi cant part of the Voronezh Region, to the Belgorod and Lipetsk Regions, and through Michurinsk, to the Tambov Region. Along with the positive trends that have developed, the Central Black Soil Region, like many other regions, is characterized by a high level of intraregional diff erences, which is manifested in the presence of areas that are insuffi ciently provided with cities and transport infrastructure. Conclusions. The Central Black Soil Region, as one of the transit regions of Russia, is a connecting link that binds the settlement space of European Russia. Despite the grid of nodes and lines that has formed, it traces areas devoid of strong centers.