Miocene-Pliocene tectonic movements transformed considerably the landscape of South Urals and drove spatial patterns and intensity of Earth surface processes. Deepening of river valleys in Paleo-Volga and Paleo-Ural drainage systems facilitated ground water action. Geological section in paleo-valleys of Belaya, Ufa, Bystriy Tanysh, Dioma and other rivers includes up to 200 m thick Late Miocene – Pliocene clayey unit that may favor both drainage and screening of aquifers depending on local hydrogeological conditions. In the former case, karst processes are intensified due to the increased pressure gradients and ground water velocities along the sides of paleovalleys that are composed of Carboniferous and Lower Permian gypsum and limestones. In case of shielding, rising flows of highly mineralized water are discharged in the form of large karst springs (“Krasniy Klyuch”, and others.). Along with natural control factors (lithology, tectonics, hydrogeology, etc.), present-day karstic processes development are controlled by economic activity. Karst and suffosion (underground erosion) are often activated by growth of cities and development of new lands. Neogene and modern valleys promote karst development in Lower Permian gypsums in the Ufa agglomeration where 63 karstic fieds were found. In the last 25 years, 70–80% of hazardous cases related to kasrt intensification were induced by technogenic waterlogging. Karstic and suffusion processes threaten the exploitation of Yumaguzinskaya and – Pavlovskaya Hydropower stations that were constructed on karst prone carbonate rocks at the Belaya and Ufa palevalleys.

Ksudach volcano (Kamchatka) consists of 5 completely or partially nested calderas Late Pleistocene (calderas I and II) and Holocene (III–V) age. Analysis of the processes of relief forming and structure of intracaldera river valleys leads to the conclusion that, despite the high Holocene volcanic activity of Ksudach (volcano-tectonic collapse, significant amounts of ejected pyroclastic material) the upper reaches of many of modern valleys were formed on the slopes of calderas I and II. And nowadays they are still function as the upper parts of the younger Holocene valleys of calderas IV and V. These fragments of upper parts of the Late Pleistocene river network surviving after Holocene caldera forming explosions continued to concentrate runoff and as a result the lower parts of the river network, destroyed during eruptions, begun to restore, but depending on the newly formed volcanic relief. The growth of the Shtyubel cone within the caldera V also had a significant influence on the orientation and morphology of adjacent valleys: in particular, it has led to Lagernyi creek alteration, which made a turn for 120° during the Late Holocene. The fragment of its ancient valley preserved in the form of a flat-bottomed saddle on the WSW of the vlc. Shtyubel and now it’s gradually degraded by erosion. Explosive activity of Ksudach vlc. (including Shtyubel cone) had great influence on the intracaldera river systems: powerful pyroclastic flows repeatedly filled up their valleys and came down along the river Teplaya. Subsequent incision of valleys led to the formation in them of erosion terraces composed by pyroclastic deposits.

Small catchments were classified with four morphometric characteristics that determine the relief energy: mean altitude, vertical relief, drainage density and average slope. Classification was produced using the Ward’s method and elementary catchment as a basic spatial unit. The created typology allows to elaborate recommendations on spatial distribution of crops aimed at reduction of soil erosion rates and the amounts of sediments yielded from slopes to channels of perennial and intermittent streams. The elaborated methodology was tested in the upper Medveditsa River basin (the Don River system). Six classes of elementary catchments were designated and ranked according to the relief energy. The compiled map of small catchment types may be applied for the improvement of land use practice and planning of crop rotation with respect to soil protection efficiency.

Upstream parts of the Pechora, Vychegda and Kama basins (north-eastern East European Plain) located in the vicinity of the Neopleisocene ice sheets demonstrate asynchronism in the formation of different parts of drainage systems and long interruptions in fluvial development. Within-basin and interbasin flow diversions were accompanied by repeated extreme outbursts of water from proglacial lakes and river captures. These processes resulted in the formation of a specific type of river valleys compiled of multiple-aged reaches, which determines high variability of channel-floodplain complexes, not characteristic for drainages in non-glaciated areas. In the Kama-Pechora-Vychegda watershed, the following types of river valley reaches were designated: progressive (single-directional) broken fluvial development, two-directional broken fluvial development, spillway valleys, alternate fluvial and lacustrine development. Reaches of each type differ in the figures of valley width, river slope and sinuosity value, meandering belt width, amplitude and rate of lateral channel migration, floodplain morphology.

The issues concerning relief indicative features and exogenous processes evidences on satellite images in subtropics and tropics mountain areas are presented insufficiently in geomorphological publications. The paper presents ecogeomorphological maps of alpine regions of Middle Chile (ChileanArgentinean Andes) and Eastern Cuba (Sierra Maestra Range) compiled at scales of 1:1000000 and 1:200000. The maps show manifestations of hazardous geomorphic processes. It was found that most effective for large-scale ecogeomorphological mapping are summer panchromatic and multispectral satellite images with resolution from 8–15 to 30 m/pixel. Indicative features of exogenous processes are topographic steps and altitudinal landscape zones with characteristic topographic patterns, vegetation cover (mainly leaf canopy and grass coverage), rock lithology. These indicators were used to distinguish areas of glacio-collapse, nivation, slope-wash and gully erosion, fluvial processes and forms. The established indicators facilitate the interpretation of satellite images. Comparative analysis of geomorphic process indication on satellite images in alpine regions of tropics, sub-tropics and temperate regions (Big Caucasus, Kuril Islands) revealed similarities in spite of the differences in natural settings.

Presented data show that granites after they become a part of consolidated crust do not remain passive units and move upwards, finally forming separate ridges or mountain groups, often surrounded by more resistant to weathering rock assemblages. Geological and geomorphological evidences suggest impulsive nature of the massif’s uplift that continued during the neotectonic stage, ahead of denudation processes. The internal structure of the considered “island mountains” (inselbergs) of the Northern TienShan, Transbaikalia and Mongolia testifies to the intense postmagmatic structural reworking of granites, which led to complete or partial disintegration of rock massifs at the macro, meso and micro levels. This structural feature of the exhumed massifs is a crucial link when considering possible mechanisms of post-magmatic movements of granite mass in the upper horizons of the crust and the formation of the positive topography. When rocks convert to discrete masses, their effective viscosity decrease and shear strength reduces, that causes three-dimensional mobility of rocks. Spatial redistribution of “fluid” rock masses take place due to the viscosity inversion: masses flow and squeeze to decompressed areas, in particular, toward the day surface in the direction of less lithostatic pressure.

In the flat western part of the region and near the Caucasus Mineralnye Vody Region, considerable activation of these processes occurs mainly at the expense of climatic conditions and engineering activity. The set of landslide activation factors and extent of their influence on landslide activity differ from year to year. In the last 10 years, the highest landslide activity occurred in 2005 and 2006, the lowest – in 2013. In the period 1992–2015, the largest amount of emergency situations related to landslides occurred in the Kochubeevsky and Andropov Districts (both were 23% of the total number), cities of Stavropol (19%) and Pyatigorsk (15%). Landslide events are most frequent in the spring – summer period (80% of the total number), especially May (30%).

Technogenic landslides induced by engineering activity are found on the sides of the Glebuchev ravine, the largest gully system in the central part of the Saratov City. Deformations of buildings and engineering facilites induced by landslide activity produce threats to the city’s economy and population. The paper describes results of monitoring and retrospective analysis based on archive cartographic data that permitted to follow the gully system development in historical times. Favorable for landslide activity are geological and geomorphological settings, but the key factor is related to economical activity, namely clay and loam quarrying, undercutting of slopes, pouring out waste water, construction activity and other kinds of slope loading. Mitigation measures must be followed by comprehensive recultivation of the gullies territory, namely rearrangement of slope areas, their stabilization by vegetation cover, surface and ground water drainage. It is recommended that the Glebuchev Gully is transformed into recreation park area coming out at the Volgograd Reservoir bank road.