This monograph is a logical continuation of the authors’ previously published works and is devoted to the description of various unique natural objects that have been discovered in the field, many of which are recommended for designation as natural monuments. In the course of ongoing reforms, rational use of natural resources and nature conservation have acquired priority status, which in turn determines the contemporary relevance of scientific research on the non-living natural environment. Such objects are based on the smallest natural reference units. When used as “keys” in the processes of systematization and analysis, they make it possible to identify appropriate directions for the rational utilization and protection of both individual natural objects and the environment as a whole. The term “natural object” is widely used, but its meaning is not always consistent. In a broad sense, it is often applied rather loosely, encompassing both the smallest elements of the natural environment, such as individual landforms, and much larger units, such as national parks or forest tracts. According to the currently accepted classification of forms of nature protection, natural objects are understood as “point-like” reference units within geographical systems. The authors follow this definition. Although these are small components of the natural environment, they are the most representative or unique. From the standpoint of conservation status, such typical natural objects are generally regarded as deserving only local protection, a view with which the authors disagree. Even when limited in size, a typical natural object possesses concentrated informational value because of its representativeness or uniqueness. Depending on the significance of this information, its conservation importance may range from local to all-Union and even global levels. Small waterfalls, such as those in the Sangardak River basin or similar sites, may be regarded as examples of locally significant objects. By contrast, an object such as Kurbulak possesses a unique section of continuous Quaternary deposits, throughout which stone artifacts ranging from the Acheulean period to the Neolithic have been discovered. Its significance therefore extends far beyond the boundaries of the Soviet Union. The value of such a site is not merely local, and dinosaur trackways possess a comparable degree of informational importance. The informational value of non-living natural objects and their role in preserving the “memory” of the natural environment occupy a special place in nature conservation. Through the analysis of these “small keys,” it becomes possible to understand entire geographical systems through their specific evolutionary forms, an understanding that is essential for their rational utilization. The accumulated data on the most unique natural objects already identified make it possible to systematize them for the purposes of rational nature management and the conservation of non-living nature. More than 250 such objects have been documented within the republic. The monograph presents the results of investigations of the eighty most distinctive objects from various physical-geographical regions of the republic, outlines the contents of a proposed Red Data Book of Non-Living Natural Monuments of Uzbekistan, and recommends those objects that should be included without delay. As the number of newly discovered non-living natural objects continues to grow, the need for their systematic classification has become increasingly evident. To address this issue, a special map legend was prepared, together with preliminary data on the distribution of such objects throughout the republic. Since this type of map was being compiled for the first time, the necessary cartographic principles and explanatory information are also presented. In addition to recommendations concerning the protection and rational use of non-living natural objects, the book examines certain non-living natural resources of Uzbekistan from the same perspective. The work is based on descriptions of natural objects discovered by the authors during field investigations. Data concerning the characteristics of the most unique sites proposed for protection have already been transferred to the republican society for nature conservation. A scientific center is being established at Kurbulak, a complex non-living natural object, functioning in a manner comparable to a small nature reserve. Scientific investigations in geophysics, archaeology, geography, and the stratigraphy of Quaternary deposits are already being carried out there. Plans exist to expand substantially the scope of research and to ensure the rational utilization of this micro-reserve. Conservation of the site is carried out by research institutions of the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. Work is currently underway to create a complete cadastre of well-known natural objects. Consequently, the discovery and study of non-living natural monuments have importance not only because they serve as concentrated sources of information on the evolution of environmental conditions, but also because they possess considerable practical potential. The rich informational content of such monuments brings the concepts of protection and rational utilization closer together, thereby facilitating the targeted use of non-living natural environments. The possibilities for utilizing non-living natural monuments in surrounding areas are extremely broad. With the establishment of the State Committee for Nature Protection, fundamental research on environmental protection and rational resource use within the institutions of the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR should be raised to a higher level. The activities of the Academy of Sciences and the State Committee for Nature Protection should be closely coordinated and directed toward common goals. The effectiveness of the republic’s ecological security depends to a considerable extent on the unity of these efforts. In light of modern ecological requirements, the results of such research open broad opportunities for the utilization of natural monuments, including their use for therapeutic and balneological purposes, the development of tourism (including international tourism), and various forms of economic activity. For the advancement of research on the conservation of non-living nature, a leading institution should be designated within the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, and other institutions should be required to include non-living nature conservation in their research programs. In that case, the integration of studies on natural objects and environmental protection conducted within the Academy, as determined by the relevant authorities, together with the conservation activities designed by the State Committee for Nature Protection, could be coordinated to the greatest possible extent. An important task in addressing this issue is the conduct of fundamental research on the conservation of non-living nature from a broad and long-term perspective. B. A. Bakhritdinov was responsible for describing the objects, their distribution, and the characteristics of soil and land resources, while G. F. Tetyukhin prepared the methodological sections. Fieldwork was carried out with the participation of members of the Environmental Protection Laboratory, including E. I. Chambarisov, V. A. Popov, Sh. S. Zakirov, R. Mansurov, and A. K. Urazbayev.