Models of landscape units - utopia or necessity?

This paper is devoted to typology as the basie method of landscape research. The first p a rt shows the cognitive, educational and practical roles of landscape typology models. Second p art presents a new method of creating a universal model, independent of the charting scalę. The resu lts of the paper confirm the feasibility of creating a reference base of E a rth 's landscapes and indicate the necessity to an in ternational discussion on this topie. K ey w ords: Landscape typology, methodology of geography, landscape reference base.