Volume 1-2
Sofia, 2026
ISSN 0204-7209
ISSN 2367-6671 (Online)
ISSN 2367-6671 (Online)
PROBLEMS OF GEOGRAPHY
CONTENTS
– DIVERGENT URBAN TRAJECTORIES IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE: A COMPLEX TYPOLOGY OF SMALL TOWNS IN BULGARIA AND HUNGARY
The current study aims to develop a comparative typology of small towns in Bulgaria and Hungary in order to explore the spatial differentiation of their demographic, urbanistic, and socio-economic trajectories. A set of 21 indicators divided into 5 groups (demographic, urbanistic, infrastructural, socioeconomic, and administrative-functional) was used for classification. As a result, six clusters are identified by applying the Partitioning Around Medoids (PAM) clustering procedure. After determining the number of towns included in every cluster, a brief analysis was provided describing their strengths and weaknesses according to the mentioned indicators. The typology reveals substantial internal differentiation within both national contexts. Bulgarian towns form five clusters, including a unique outlier dominated by tourism-driven dynamics, while Hungarian towns are represented in all six clusters, with one cluster comprising exclusively Hungarian settlements. The findings demonstrate that small towns in Bulgaria and Hungary constitute heterogeneous socio-spatial systems shaped by demographic features, infrastructural disparities, and varying degrees of integration into regional networks.
Keywords: urban settlements, typology, socioeconomic disparities, Bulgaria, Hungary
– SPATIAL ASSESSMENT OF URBAN PARKS FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN ISTANBUL
Rapid urbanization and intensive land-use transformation in Istanbul have generated increasing pressure on urban green infrastructure, resulting in pronounced spatial inequalities in access to public parks. As a rapidly expanding megacity with strong contrasts between compact urban cores and peripheral zones, Istanbul provides a representative case for examining the spatial effectiveness of urban parks within a complex metropolitan system. The study presents a systematic spatial assessment of urban parks as a key element of sustainable urban development across Istanbul’s 39 administrative districts. Applying a GIS-based analytical framework, the research integrates official green space inventories, administrative boundaries, and population data to evaluate both the quantitative availability of urban parks and their role in enhancing urban quality of life. A set of comparable spatial indicators is used, including the number and area of urban parks, their relative share of the district territory, their proportion within open and active green spaces, and park area per capita. The combined use of these indicators enables a multidimensional assessment that goes beyond simple measurements of green space quantity and captures functional and territorial differences between districts. The results demonstrate marked spatial imbalances in the distribution of urban parks. Higher levels of park provision are observed primarily in peripheral districts with lower building density, while central and densely urbanized districts show persistent deficits. Notably, eleven districts lack urban parks entirely; in these areas, green spaces are dominated by forested or non-urban green areas that do not provide equivalent recreational and social functions. These findings reveal a structural mismatch between the overall presence of green areas and the availability of accessible, functionally organized urban parks. The main contribution of this study is its integrative indicator-based approach, which distinguishes between different types of green spaces and explicitly identifies districts where the quantitative abundance of greenery does not translate into functional accessibility. By spatially highlighting zones of deficit and surplus, the research provides an empirical basis for more balanced and equity-oriented green infrastructure planning. The results support policy interventions focused on green regeneration of underutilized urban land, development of micro-parks in compact neighborhoods, and the strengthening of ecological connectivity as a pathway toward more resilient and socially inclusive urban environments.
Keywords: urban green spaces, spatial analysis, sustainable planning, GIS, environmental justice, Istanbul
– ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO MEASURING THE SOCIAL VULNERABILITY LEVELS OF POPULATIONS IN MUNICIPALITIES AFFECTED BY FLOODS
Floods are the largest and most frequent natural hazard in Slovakia; they threaten a relatively large portion of the population. The scope and depth of vulnerability in some population groups due to floods pose a significant societal issue. This is particularly problematic for marginalised Roma communities (MRCs) living in environmentally unstable areas that repeatedly flood. Due to their low social and economic status and multiple disadvantages, these communities experience various forms and types of vulnerability. This paper responds to the adverse situation faced by a large part of this ethnic group by measuring and evaluating the social vulnerability (SV) of MRCs in selected municipalities threatened by repeated floods, with a particular focus on the Spišská Nová Ves district. This study sought to understand the differentiated level of SV, identify high-risk municipalities in terms of SV, determine the specific prevailing type of vulnerability, and confirm or refute the existence of a dependency between SV level and the proportion of Roma in the examined municipalities. Results confirmed the hypothesis that the most vulnerable municipalities have the highest proportions of marginalised Roma in their populations. The correlation coefficient showed a strong linear correlation between the level of SV and the proportion of the Roma population in the examined municipalities. All information obtained on the SV of Roma communities (level, risk, nature, specific vulnerabilities, conditions and causes) is a valuable source for assessing flood risks for the Roma ethnic group in Slovakia. The approach used to study the SV of MRCs is applicable to various marginalised groups and other natural risks; it can be generalised across geographic scales, analytical frameworks, different natural hazards, and index-creation methods.
Keywords: social vulnerability (SV), marginalised Roma communities, flood, SV indicators, correlation weighting system, SV index
– WATER MONITORING OF THE SAZLIYKA RIVER, EAST AEGEAN BASIN, BULGARIA
The aim of the study is to carry out a comprehensive ecological assessment of the water status of the Sazliyka River based on the biological quality element macrozoobenthos and physicochemical indicators in the biotopes of water bodies located near settlements of Navasen, Radnevo-Gipsovo, Dinya, Rakinitsa, and Starozagorski Bani. The studies were conducted in accordance with the standards established by the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC). A total of 51 taxa with 6988 specimens and the presence of Nematoda were identified. The main biotic indices were determined. Based on our own monitoring, the physicochemical status of the waters of the Sazliyka River was assessed according to 21 indicators, with significant deviations from the reference values for most of them. According to the comprehensive assessment, the ecological status of the freshwater ecosystem in the studied biotopes varies from very poor to moderate.
Ключови думи: biological elements, physicochemical indicators, indices, ecological state, river ecosystem, Sazliyka River.
– COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE WATER S IN THE SAZLIYKA RIVER BASIN, SOUTHERN BULGARIA
This study presents an integrated assessment of surface waters in the Sazliyka River Basin (Southern Bulgaria), based on hydrological, hydro-morphological, and physicochemical data. Hydrological characteristics were analyzed using data from the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH), hydro-morphological pressure was assessed using publicly available information from the Eastern Aegean Basin Directorate (EABD), and the physicochemical status was evaluated based on data from the National Environmental Monitoring System (NEMS). The results indicate a statistically significant decreasing trend in water volumes, increased annual streamflow variability, and changes in seasonal runoff distribution. Considerable hydro-morphological pressure was detected, while the physicochemical status was classified as „poor“ due to domestic and livestock wastewater discharges. Based on the findings, measures are proposed to reduce anthropogenic pressure, enhance climate change adaptation, and improve physicochemical status of surface waters.
Keywords: climate change impacts, anthropogenic pressure, hydro-morphological alterations, water quality, Sazliyka River basin, Bulgaria.
– COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE WATER S IN THE SAZLIYKA RIVER BASIN, SOUTHERN BULGARIA
This study presents an integrated assessment of surface waters in the Sazliyka River Basin (Southern Bulgaria), based on hydrological, hydro-morphological, and physicochemical data. Hydrological characteristics were analyzed using data from the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH), hydro-morphological pressure was assessed using publicly available information from the Eastern Aegean Basin Directorate (EABD), and the physicochemical status was evaluated based on data from the National Environmental Monitoring System (NEMS). The results indicate a statistically significant decreasing trend in water volumes, increased annual streamflow variability, and changes in seasonal runoff distribution. Considerable hydro-morphological pressure was detected, while the physicochemical status was classified as „poor“ due to domestic and livestock wastewater discharges. Based on the findings, measures are proposed to reduce anthropogenic pressure, enhance climate change adaptation, and improve physicochemical status of surface waters.
Keywords: climate change impacts, anthropogenic pressure, hydro-morphological alterations, water quality, Sazliyka River basin, Bulgaria.
– SPATIAL DIMENSIONS OF THE INTEGRATION OF THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS IN BULGARIA: EMPLOYER ATTITUDES AND PERCEIVED BARRIERS
This article examines the spatial dimensions of the integration of third-country nationals in Bulgaria from the perspective of employers. The analysis is based on a nationally representative survey of 800 employers across different regions and types of settlements. The study explores employer attitudes, perceived barriers to integration, and expectations towards public and non-governmental actors. The findings show that while actual experience with hiring third-country nationals varies across regions and sectors, evaluations of institutional performance and expectations towards state intervention are not significantly territorially differentiated. Cross-tabulation and chi-square tests do not reveal statistically significant differences by type of settlement regarding perceptions of institutional contribution or support for a national integration programme. This suggests that employer attitudes are shaped within a relatively homogeneous national regulatory framework rather than by strongly localized institutional contexts. At the same time, the results reveal a marked ambivalence: employers tend to evaluate the current institutional contribution moderately or neutrally, yet a strong majority support the introduction of a structured state programme for adaptation and integration. Preferred measures emphasize legislative facilitation, financial incentives, and administrative efficiency, while social and cultural dimensions receive comparatively less attention. Integration is thus primarily perceived as an economic and regulatory process linked to labour market needs rather than as a long-term social inclusion strategy. The study contributes to the socio-geographical analysis of migration by highlighting the interaction between labour market dynamics, institutional expectations, and spatial context, while also questioning assumptions about strong territorial differentiation in employer attitudes toward integration.
Keywords: Third-country nationals; employer attitudes; institutional context; spatial dimensions; labour market.
– IMPLEMENTING THE STEAM APPROACH IN AN INTERDISCIPLINARY GEOGRAPHY AND PHYSICS LESSON: PEDAGOGICAL EFFECTS IN LEARNING THE GENERAL ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION OF THE EARTH
The article examines the possibilities for implementing an integrated STEAM approach in school еducation through a binary lesson combining Geography and Physics on the topic “General Atmospheric Circulation of the Earth”. The study aims to analyze the pedagogical potential of project based learning in an interdisciplinary educational environment integrating knowledge from the natural sciences, mathematical modelling and technological tools. Within the research, a didactic model of a binary lesson was developed and tested, based on problem-oriented project tasks that involve the analysis of global atmospheric processes, modelling of atmospheric circulation cells and interpretation of climatic data. The research methodology includes pedagogical observation, analysis of students’ learning products and a survey used to assess students’ learning motivation and their level of conceptual understanding of atmospheric dynamics. The results indicate an increased level of understanding of cause and effect relationships in global atmospheric circulation, development of spatial thinking and higher student engagement in the learning process. the findings demonstrate that the integration of geographical knowledge with physical principles supports the formation of a holistic understanding of the interactions between the Earth’s radiation balance, the movement of air masses and the spatial differentiation of climate. The study contributes to the development of interdisciplinary teaching practices and provides evidence that the application of STEAM approaches in geography education enhances scientific literacy and interdisciplinary competence among students. More specifically, the implementation of a binary lesson model integrating geography and physics enabled students to interpret atmospheric circulation not only as a descriptive geographic phenomenon but also as a dynamic physical system governed by energy transfer, pressure gradients and planetary rotation. Using inquiry based tasks, visualization techniques and collaborative problem solving activities, learners demonstrated improved abilities to explain causal relationships between thermal contrasts, convection processes and the formation of global wind systems. The results of the comparative analysis between diagnostic and final assessments indicate measurable progress in conceptual understanding and in the application of interdisciplinary reasoning strategies. Furthermore, the structured inclusion of experimental demonstrations and data interpretation tasks contributed to the development of analytical thinking and model based explanation skills, which are central components of contemporary science education frameworks. Students showed increased engagement when working with real atmospheric datasets and schematic representations of circulation cells, suggesting that the integration of empirical evidence strengthens the transfer of knowledge across disciplinary boundaries. These outcomes confirm the pedagogical potential of STEAM oriented instruction to support deeper cognitive processing and to foster active participation in learning environments. From a methodological perspective, the study illustrates how the alignment between curriculum objectives, instructional design and assessment instruments can facilitate the effective objectives, instructional design and assessment instruments can facilitate the effective implementation of interdisciplinary teaching models in secondary education. The proposed plementation of interdisciplinary teaching models in secondary education. The proposed instructional approach may serve as a replicable framework for designing integrated lessons instructional approach may serve as a replicable framework for designing integrated lessons on complex Earth system processes and supports broader efforts to modernize gon complex Earth system processes and supports broader efforts to modernize geography eography education through competenceeducation through competence–based and researchbased and research-informed practices. Overall, the results informed practices. Overall, the results reinforce the role of interdisciplinary STEAM strategies as a means of promoting meaningful reinforce the role of interdisciplinary STEAM strategies as a means of promoting meaningful scientific understanding and preparing students for the interpretascientific understanding and preparing students for the interpretation of global environmental tion of global environmental phenomena in a rapidly changing worldphenomena in a rapidly changing world.
Keywords: STEAM education; binary lesson; project based learning; atmospheric circulation; interdisciplinary learning; geography and physics.
– METHOD AND TECHNIQUE FOR SYNCHRONOUS RESEARCH OF DYNAMIC PROCESSES IN THE COASTAL ZONE AND SHELF
After World War II, some areas of oceanography lagged behind in the implementation of new research methods and techniques. Proof of this is the Russian luminophore sand tracer method which has gained international recognition and widespread use despite its shortcomings. The engineering method of “scientific research piers” for studying dynamic processes in the coastal zone also proved completely ineffective, which is why it is no longer used. The authors’ article is a response to these shortcomings, proposing a new methodological approach and a set of new research instruments. A summary of the method for synchronous research using kits for direct study of dynamic processes in the coastal zone and shelf is provided, highlighting its advantages over the method of luminophores and the research piers method, with a view to its further improvement. The method using instrument sets will provide synchronous and up-to-date information on the coastal zone and shelf, which is expected to increase the effectiveness of the marine ecological complexes proposed by the authors in solving the problems they address.
Keywords: hydro-litho-morphodynamic set, hydro-litho-morphodynamic
recorder, sediment direction trap, vertical sediment concentration trap, integral vector of sediment flux, load and dynamics of the active bottom layer.
recorder, sediment direction trap, vertical sediment concentration trap, integral vector of sediment flux, load and dynamics of the active bottom layer.
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