Konstantin Markov

Born May 7 (20), 1905, in Vyborg. Soviet geographer and geomorphologist. Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1970). Honored Scientist of the RSFSR (1966). Member of the CPSU since 1948.

Markov graduated from Leningrad State University in 1926. Until 1937 he worked at Leningrad University and took part in research conducted by the Geological Institute and the Geographic Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, becoming head of the section of geomorphology at the Geographic Institute in 1938. In 1940 he became a professor at Moscow State University and in 1946 head of the subdepartment of paleogeography (now the subdepartment of general physical geography and paleogeography). Between 1945 and 1955 he was dean of the department of geography at Moscow State University. Markov took part in expeditions to the northwestern part of Leningrad Oblast and Karelia, to the Pamirs and Tien-Shan, to many regions of the European part of the USSR, Vrangel’ Island, the Kola Peninsula, the Caucasus, Western Siberia, Eastern Siberia, and Antarctica (three times, 1955-60). He also took part in oceanic expeditions and traveled in numerous European countries and in the United States.

Markov’s principal works deal with fundamental research on the Quaternary period on USSR territory; the introduction of historical principles into geographic research; the general theory of physical geography and geomorphology; the relationship between spatial and temporal principles (the metachronism of geographic phenomena); and the introduction of analytic methods into geographic research (spore and pollen, paleontological, diatomaceous, and other types of analysis). Markov helped organize a number of new subdepartments in the department of geography at Moscow University. He is an honorary member of the geographic societies of Poland and Croatia, an honorary doctor of the University of todz, and a recipient of the Semenov Tian-Shanskii Gold Medal. In 1971 he was awarded the State Prize of the USSR for his part in compiling the Atlas of Antarctica. Markov has also been awarded two orders and various medals.