ИСТИНА

Soils of a city are described for the first time as specific natural—anthropogenic phenomena contrary to their former perception as of non-soils. Their specific properties comprise horizonation, occurrence of artifacts and technogenic pollutants, development of specific biota including the pathogenic microorganisms. An original, and the first in Russia classification of soils and soil-like bodies within a town is proposed. A procedure of surveying soils in a town was elaborated along with modified methods of profile description with specification of genetic horizons and anthropogenic strata. It was applied to Moscow, so that a schematic soil map was compiled.