Stone simulations of European Russia’s sculptures as heritage monuments and innovative tourism sites

The similarities of stone sculptures common in the territory of European Russia, which are geomorphological phenomena considered controversial in genesis, are considered. The purpose of the article is to propose the expansion of protected heritage sites and tourism facilities by involving the mentioned likenesses of statues in them. The material for the study of the sculptures was the author’s field research in different regions of the country and data from other specialists. As a research method, the systematization of the data obtained was used, on the basis of which the classification of the sculptures was carried out (four of their varieties were identified – anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, fossil and fantastic) and mapping was carried out, allowing to judge their distribution in European Russia. The geological, geomorphological and landscape features of their distribution, ancient legends about them and related toponyms are considered. Some stable patterns inherent in stone sculptures marked with similar toponyms or similar legends have been revealed. Analogues of statues in other parts of the world, issues of protection and tourism of some well-known likenesses of statues, as well as the views of various domestic and foreign experts on their genesis are also discussed. At the same time, geographical signs of the man-made sculptures identified by the author’s research are given. It is shown that there are many statues located in uninhabited areas of the country, which are still not protected and rarely visited by travelers. It is postulated that, regardless of the origin of the similarities of stone statues, they are of great interest to travelers and specialists, being unusual phenomena, require special study by various researchers, obtaining the status of protected and inclusion in the register of tourist sites as a promising unused resource.