The article analyzes the natural mineral waters of the Chechen Republic which are a leading factor in the formation of a sanatorium and health resort base. The conditions of formation and distribution of natural mineral waters on the territory of the Chechen Republic are studied, their classification by chemical composition, general mineralization and balneological properties is presented. Five water-bearing zones within the region are identified and characterized. A brief historical analysis of the research and development of mineral springs is given. A detailed description of mineral springs from the point of their use for balneological purposes is given. On the territory of the Chechen Republic, there are mineral springs with various chemical composition and balneological properties, which are comparable by some properties to the best world analogues, and this creates significant prerequisites for expanding the existing sanatorium and health resort base. At this stage, the main focus should be concentrated on meeting domestic needs, solving the problem of recreation and treatment of residents of the Chechen Republic, and in the future, it should be focused on the development of domestic and international tourism and recreation.

The article discloses an increasing role of biodiversity in strategies of sustainable development of mountain areas. Unique character and attractiveness of mountain ecosystems due to significant biological, landscape and ethno genetic diversity and their sensibility to anthropogenic have been discussed. Estimation is given to biodiversity of NorthEast Caucasus based on Red Book List of animals and plants, significantly differentiated by regions and landscape zones. The greatest number of animals listed in the Red Book of NorthEast Caucasus is in Dagestan and Chechnya. Maximum biodiversity is found in mountain-forest and mountain-meadow zones, and minimal diversity is in the most developed inundable, low land and marine low-land landscapes.

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The article describes the role of hydro-recreational resources in the form of a set of mineral sources, river systems, lakes, reservoirs and other objects in the structure of recreational potential. The region has a high recreational potential, which allows expanding the existing sanatorium and resort base and developing various types of tourism (medical and recreational, scientific, educational, rural, extreme sports, etc.). Physical and geographical features of the territory of the Chechen Republic provide favorable conditions for almost year-round recreational activities. The main focus is on ecotourism as an environmentally oriented form of recreation, which is most relevant to the concept of balanced environmental management and, in particular, water use. An assessment of the current state of the region recreational complex is given. The main factors limiting the development of recreation and tourism include: lack of infrastructure, a shortage of qualified personnel managers, a negative political image of the republic, created by the media. It is shown that their elimination will allow bringing the industry of recreation and tourism in the Chechen Republic to a higher quality level.