Fabulous Georgia
Georgia Georgia is an extremely mountainous country, certainly the most so in Europe. The rugged Caucasus Mountains stretch across the northern third, while central and south, the Lesser Caucasus Mountains dominate the landscape.
Protected Areas
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park Supported by WWF Located in the Lesser Caucasus the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is one of the largest in Europe and the first national park in the Caucasus. It covers more than 76,000 hectares, which amounts nearly 1% of the territory of Georgia. Mountainous forests and sub-alpine and alpine meadows are home to rare species of flora and fauna. The park is supported by the World Wide Fund for Nature.
VASHLOVANI PROTECTED AREAS The Protected Areas are located among the two main vital sources, the main rivers of Kakheti – Iori and Alazani. The gorge is a deep and very beautiful canyon cut by a little ravine through the cliffs of limestone origin. The territories of Vashlovani are distinguished with rare Wild pistachio trees(Pistacea mutica), arid light forests and bluestem-feather grasssteppes. Foothills are covered with oak trees and ash-tree groves mixed with maple and elm. Here can be found barberry, Jerusalem thorn, smoke tree, peashrub, et al. There are unique floodplain forest of Alazani and two little bays (Juma and Mijna) in Vashlovani National Park. The bays are the only place in Georgia where the walnut trees (Juglans regia) grow wild next toFloodplain oaks(Qurcus pedunculata), poplars (Populus nigra, P. canescens), ash trees(Fraxinus excelsior)andpomegranate (Punica granatum), Peony(Paeonia maiko), Wild grape (Vitis sylvestris)and other rare plants. the Vashlovani Strict Nature Reserve is very rich in ornithological viewpoint. One can find the flocks of thousands of Blackbirds and Rosy starlings in Vashlovani. There are many other small birds. Waterfowls are abundant in Vashlovani; herons, cormorants, garganey, mallards and Red ducks, osprey, White tailed eagle can be found here. The reptiles also play a significant role in the fauna of Vashlovani. 25 species are described there. Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca), Schneider's skink, Caucasian agama, Caucasian sand boa and the snakes – Boa constrictor, Four-lined snake, Grass snake and Levantine viper can be found in the territory of the National Park. About 16 species of fish inhabit the Alazani River. 700 species of insects are recorded in the territory of Vashlovani. Among them 109 species are of butterflies.
TUSHETI PROTECTED AREAS Tusheti, one of the most beautiful regions of Georgia, is located in the eastern Caucasus. Tusheti is bordered by Dagestan to the east and by Chechnya – to the north. Khevsureti is located to the west of Tusheti and Kakheti – to the south. Tusheti, surrounded by the high mountain ranges and summits, is rugged by the numerous gorges, the waters from which flow into the two major rivers of Tusheti – Pirikiti’s Alazani and Tusheti’s (Gometsari) Alazani separated with the watershed of Makratela. Both Alazanis merge near the village of Shenako and then leave Tusheti and the border of Georgia, flows to Dagestan, where this river is called as Andis Koisu and finally flows into the Caspian Sea. Tusheti Protected Areas cover Tusheti Strict Nature Reserve, Tusheti National Park and Tusheti Protected Landscape. There total area is about113,660.2 ha. The vegetation of Tusheti is characterized by a high level of endemism. 230 representatives of domestic flora are endemic to Caucasus (more than 20% of total amount of Caucasus endemic species) and 11 species are endemic to Georgia. 60 species of mammals, about 120 species of birds, 4 - of reptiles, 6 - of amphibians and 1 species of fish are widespread in Tusheti. Among large ungulate animals Roe deer can be often found in the forests of Tusheti and very rarely – Red deer. Wild boar regularly visits Tusheti from neighboring Dagestan. Tusheti is rich in carnivores – Red fox and Gray wolf can be found everywhere including even very high areas above sea level. The footprints of Brown beer can be also found everywhere, the population of which is quite stable. Lynx can be also found in Tusheti in sufficient amount and it has many sources of prey including small rodents and hare and chamois and young turs – all these animals are the hunting objects of lynx. The scientists still hope that the Mountains of Tusheti are still the shelter of ounce, the Southwest Asian leopard.
KOLKHETI NATIONAL PARK National Park is located in western Georgia. It covers the eastern zone of the Black Sea coast and the basin of the PaliastomiLake. The Park is established with the purpose of protection and surviving of wetland ecosystems. Kolkheti The Kolkheti lowland became the subject of international interest firstly in 1996, when theGeorgia joined the Ramsar Convention on “Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat”. Since 2000 the Kolkheti national park began full-scale functioning. The park is not a monolith formation and it is consisted of separate territories – the districts. The Park is divided into the following natural geographical districts: Anaklia-Churia (between the coastline sections of ravines of the ChuriaRiver and the KhobistskaliRiver), Nabada (between the western sections of the ravines of the KhobistskaliRiver and theRioniRiver) and Imnati (between the western sections of the ravines of the RioniRiver and the SupsaRiver). These are the places where the ecosystems of wetlands are best preserved. Besides, the national park includes the sea water area located between the estuaries of the rivers of Rioni and Churia Kolkheti mires, first of all, are important for their relict origin. This lowland is a remainder of the tropical and subtropical landscapes preserved till today, which were stretched along entire Eurasian continent as continuous belt in Cenozoic age about 10 million years ago. In Kolkheti the plants have been preserved that are nowadays characteristic only for swampy ecosystems of tundra and taiga of the far North. The Kolkheti lowland is of other international significance as well. The territories of Kolkheti national park are interesting, first of all, by botanic point of view. The complexes of phytocoenosis rich in quite diverse, relict and endemic species, and various compositions have remained there till present – they are the different plant communities of the mires, swampy forests and sand dunes located along the coastline
MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK Mtirala National Park is located in histor-ical Achara. The territory of Mtiralais constructed by volcanic-sedimentary rocks of so-called “Naghvarevi Pack”, which are presented by alternation of sub-alkali and lime alkali basalts, trachiandesites, andesites, delenites, tuffites, marls and argillites. Mount Mtirala is located between the Black Sea and Achara mountain system on the watershed of Chakvistskali and Koraghitskali.These mountains intercept the humid air from the Black Sea and determine Achara's very humid climate. Generally, Achara is rich in atmospheric pre-cipitation but the Mount Mtirala, height of which is 1381 m above sea level, is the most abundant with precipitation. Annual precipitation reaches to 4520 mm here, due to which the Mount Mtirala is considered as one of the wettest sites not only in Achara but in our country as well.The toponym "Mtirala" (“Weeping”) was given to this Mount just because of abundant precipitation. The flora of Mtirala is rich and diverse The fauna of Mtirala is rich as well. Among amphibians Caucasian salamander, Banded newt, Caucasian toad, Common tree frog, Long-legged frog and Eurasian marsh frog can be found here. Three species of lizard and several species of snakes, such as Grass Snake and Dice Snake, and Caucasian Viper inhabit here.
The Ornithofauna of the National Park is quite richinbirds of prey. Ruins of fortresses and bridges of the Early and Late Middle Ages are found in the surroundings of Mount Mtirala (or Tsiskara).
IMERETI CAVES PROTECTED AREAS Complex of Imereti caves is located at a distance of 10 km from the town ofKutaisi. The area of the complex of Imereti caves is about 354 hectares. The Sataplia itself is located at 500 m above sea level. Karst caves can be found in this territory. Climate of Sataplia is subtropical. Amount of annual precipitation reaches 1900 mm. Average air temperature in January is +40C and in August +250C. Sataplia Strict Nature Reserve is located in the subtropical zone. 98 % of its territory is covered with subtropical young forest of Colchic type. In the forest dominate beech groves with box-tree underbrush and hornbeam groves with Oriental hornbeam underbrush. Among coniferous plants natural yew trees (Taxus baccata) can be found here. 67 species of wood plants are described in the territory of the Strict Nature Reserve, out of which 30 are tree species and 37 – bush species; among them 59 species are deciduous and 8 – evergreen. Nearly half of wood plants are relict. There are relicts of the Tertiary period among them, such as: Caucasian hornbeam (Carpinus caucasica), Georgian oak (Quercus iberica), Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa), Imeretian buckthorn (Rhamnus imeretina), alder (Alnus barbata), European bladdernut (Staphylea pinnata), Colchic box-tree (Buxus colchica), et al. Among the elements of Colchic forest 8 species are widespread in the Strict Nature reserve, such as: Colchic oak, Imeretian buckthorn, rhododendron, Butcher's broom, Southern Butcher’s broom, European bladdernut, Caucasian Whortleberry and Colchic box-tree and among the elements of Poltava flora – box-tree, Colchic climber, rhododendron, et al. It is remarkable, that rare and threatened 9 wood plants species of Georgia’s Red List are widespread in the Strict Nature Reserve, besides, 3 are endemic to Caucasus and one – to Georgia.
A 3000 Year Old State Georgia has one of the world’s richest and oldest histories. Archaeological excavations provide clear evidence that Georgian tribes formed their statehood as early as the second millennium BC. The remains of the flourishing Georgian states of Colchis and Iberia can be seen while travelling in the ancient cities of Vani, Kutaisi and Mtskheta.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites 1.Ancient Capital of Georgia - Mtskheta Svetitskhoveli Cathedral - 11th century Jvari Church - 6th century 2.The Town of Kutaisi Gelati Monastery - 12th century Bagrati Cathedral - 11th century 3.Upper Svaneti
Homeland of the First European The Remains of what may be the earliest human ancestors to migrate from Africa into Europe have been found in the Republic of Georgia.
habitation in Europe. It proves that there is almost one-million-year gap between Dmanisi and any European early-human site, making Georgia the homeland of the FIRST European. This is the face that’s changing a thousand minds. It could be the face of the first human to leave Africa. And it’s not what anyone expected. This 1.75-million-year-old pioneer, found beneath the ruins of a medieval town called Dmanisi in the republic of Georgia, had a tiny brain – not nearly the size scientists thought our ancestors needed to migrate into a new land. And its huge canine teeth and thin brow look too apelike for an advanced hominid, the group that includes modern humans and their ancestors.
Land of the Golden Fleece Ancient Greek legends told of a fabulously wealthy land where Jason and the Argonauts stole the Golden Fleece from King Aeetes with the help of his daughter Medea. It was a distant land that was reached by the Black Sea and down the River Phasis. The actual site of this legendary kingdom has never been found but the Greeks must have been greatly impressed by the Colchis region of Georgia, through which the River Phasis (currently the Rioni River) runs, for such stories to have been born.
Geographically, ancient Colchis comprised the land bounded by the Black Sea to the west, the Caucasus Mountains to the north, the Surami Range to the east and the Meskhetian Mountains to the south. In this fertile, sheltered area, Colchian civilization flourished. Their Late Bronze Age (15th to 8th Century BC) saw the development of an expertise in the smelting and casting of metals that began long before this skill was mastered in Europe. Sophisticated farming implements were made and fertile, well-watered lowlands blessed with a mild climate promoted the growth of progressive agricultural techniques. It is likely that the Golden Fleece existed. Earlier in this century, remote mountain villagers in Svaneti (a part of ancient Colchis) were observed using sheepskins to trap the fine gold particles in the rivers that flowed from the Caucasus Mountains. The skins would then be dried and beaten to shake out their contents. However, it is debatable as to whether or not the legendary 'wealth' of Colchis referred only to gold. Archaeological evidence dates the earliest Greek imports of painted pottery and amphorae to the end of the 7th Century BC. In exchange, it is thought that Greeks sought the rich natural resources of Colchis including wood and metal ores as well as textiles. The Ancient Greek writer, Herodotus, referred to the superior quality of Colchian linen and today, the mountain slopes remain heavily forested.
The Oldest Gold From The Land Of Colchis
Colchis Bronze And Silver
A Silk Road Country With its favourable geographic location Georgia has always been a connecting link between Europe and Asia, traversed by many routes including the famous Silk Road. This most important premodern trade road linking China with the West diverged into northern and southern routes, the northern one passing through Georgia. The traces of ancient caravans are still visible near Uplistsikhe cave town.
Cradle of Wine When it comes to wine-making, Georgia is blessed. Grapevine has been cultivated in the fertile valleys of Georgia for about 8000 years. With over 500 varieties of endemic grapes and the world’s first cultivates grapevines, the traditions of viticulture are entwined with the country's national identity. It is also believed that the word “wine” is of Georgian origin (“gvino” in Georgian)
8,000-year-old wine unearthed in Georgia: Scientists have discovered the world's oldest wine – a vintage produced 8,000 years ago. The find pushes back the history of wine by several hundred years. New discoveries show how Neolithic man was busy making red wine in Shulaveri (Georgia). Although no liquid wine from the period has survived, scientists have now found and tested wine residues discovered on the inner surfaces of 8,000-year-old ceramic storage jars. - The Independent, 2003
Ancient Christian Country Georgian people shared the Message of God in the first century when the Holy Apostles Andrew the First-called, Simon the Canaanite and Matthata preached the Gospel here, although Georgia was officially converted to Christianity in 337 with the evangelism of St. Nino of Cappadocia. Being one of the world’s most ancient Christian countries, Georgia also preserves the most holy relic – the Robe of Christ.
The original church was built in IV century A.D. during the reign of Mirian III of Kartli (Iberia). St. Nino is said to have chosen the confluence of the Mtkvari (Kura) and Aragvi rivers as the place of the first Georgian Church.
According to Georgian hagiography, in the first century AD a Georgian Jew from Mtskheta named Elias was in Jerusalem when Jesus was crucified. Elias bought Jesus’ robe from a Roman soldier at Golgotha and brought it back to Georgia. Returning to his native city, he was met by his sister Sidonia who upon touching the robe immediately died from the emotions engendered by the sacred object. The robe could not be removed from her grasp, so she was buried with it. The place where Sidonia is buried with Christ's robe is preserved in the Cathedral. Later, from her grave grew an enormous cedar tree. Ordering the cedar chopped down to build the church, St. Nino had seven columns made from it for the church’s foundation. The seventh column, however, had magical properties and rose by itself into the air. It returned to earth after St. Nino prayed the whole night. It was further said that from the magical seventh column a sacred liquid flowed that cured people of all diseases. In Georgian sveti means "pillar" and tskhoveli means "life-giving" or "living", hence the name of the cathedral. An icon portraying this event can be seen on the second column on the right-hand from the entrance. Reproduced widely throughout Georgia, it shows Sidonia with an angel lifting the column in heaven. Saint Nino is in the foreground: King Mirian and his wife, Queen Nana, are to the right and left.
svetitskhoveli Cathedral, originally built in the 4th century, has been damaged several times during history, notably by the invasions of Arabs, Persians, and Timur and latterly during Russian subjugation and the Soviet period. The building has also been damaged by earthquakes.
Alaverdi Monastery is a Georgian Orthodox Monastery in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia. Parts of the monastery date back to 6th century. The present day cathedral dates to the 11th century.
Gelati Monastery was founded in the 12th century by Georgia’s most famous king, David the Builder (1073 – 1125 AD). Gelati and Bagrati are listed as World Cultural Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Davit gareji .This remarkable complex of cave monasteries, covering a large area of almost desert-like wilderness, is one of the highlights of a visit to Georgia. Founded in the 6th century by the Christian Father St. David, the monasteries of Lavra, Udabno, Dodo and Bertubani are remarkable for their original cave frescos that date from the 8th to 13th centuries
Vardzia. The cave city of Vardzia is a cave monastery dug into the side of the Erusheli mountain in southern Georgia on the left bank of the river Mtkvari. It was founded by Queen Tamar in 1185. The monastery was constructed as protection from the Mongols and consisted of over six thousand apartments in a thirteen story complex.
The Great Caucasus the Highest Mountain Range in Europe Stretching for about 1200km between the Black and the Caspian seas the Caucasus Mountain system is considered a natural boundary between Europe and Asia. This is where you find summits over 5000m, including Mt. Elbrus (5642m) – the highest in Europe. Georgia has three peaks over 5000m – Mt. Shkhara (5068m), Mt. Janga (5059m) and Mt. Kazbegi (5047m) where according to the Greek myth Prometheus was chained.
Ushguli – Europe’s Highest Village At 2200m Ushguli is the highest settlement in Europe. The village of about 200 people is located in Upper Svaneti region, at the foot of Mt. Shkhara (5068m) – one of the highest summits of the Caucasus. Dotted with medieval Svanetian watchtowers Ushguli is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Unique Language and Script Georgia’s original and highly developed culture is proved by its unique language and script. Spoken by about 5 million people worldwide, Georgian language has an ancient literary tradition. Georgian alphabet was created in the 3rd century BC and is one of the only 14 existing scripts in the world. Earliest Georgian inscriptions are found in a church near Bethlehem (AD 430) and in Bolnisi Sioni church (AD 495) in the South-East of Georgia. The earliest Georgian novel also dates to the 5th century AD.
Tbilisi Many travelers begin exploring Georgia with a visit to Tbilisi. Tbilisi is Georgia‟s historic capital city, and has been the capital since the 6th century A.D. It was named for the hot springs that abound in the area, as the word “Tpili” means „warm‟ in Georgian. Tbilisi is the largest city in the country, with over one million inhabitants and is situated in the beautiful Mtkvari River Valley. Being a main cultural, industrial, and social center of Georgia, it typifies the blend of cultures seen across the country, with a mix of architectural styles and inhabitants. In the old section are medieval buildings and courtyards, narrow streets, overhanging balconies, and the famous hot sulfur springs. The rest of the city has been extensively modernized.
Why you Should Visit Georgia Beautiful landscapes, the Great Caucasus Mountains, subtropical zone of the Black Sea, rivers and waterfalls, cave towns, resorts and mineral springs, urbanized cities and settlements, as well as traditional Georgian hospitality make Georgia a great country for tourists.
Impressions that you will never forget . . .