Geosites as development factor of the scientific tourism in Lugansk region

The article substantiates the necessity of scientific tourism development in Lugansk region. Scientific tourism is a trip, during which a tourist receives necessary scientific information related with specific scientific problem. Geological monuments are the important development factors of this type of tourism in the region. Geological monuments (geosites) are scientifically valuable objects or landscapes, which carry unique information about the geological past of our planet. The article gives a brief chronological overview of studies of Donbass geological objects by authoritative scientists. Author proposes four levels of scientific tourism: for students of secondary school; for high school students; for students of universities; for domestic and foreign experts. In view of the specificity of the territory and the natural conditions of Lugansk region, the directions of scientific tourism are presented in the article. They include: stratigraphic studies; study of paleontological objects; study objects that reveal the tectonic features of the region; geomorphologic observations; familiarization with geosites of the development of subsoil of Lugansk region. The author has developed the scientific excursions on specific topics of research. There are following subjects of scientific excursions: research locations of rare plants; characteristic locations of fossil plants in the hollow Dolgaya near to village Illyria; characteristic locations carboxylic organisms in the sections of the hollow Pashennaya; Kalinowski burial of gymnosperms trunks; location carboxylic organisms near the station Gruszka; geosite Gurkovaya 1, the location of carboxylic fishes; location fauna of Volnuhino. There are debate scientific issues related with named geological objects. Therefore, they were chosen as subjects of the proposed scientific excursions.