Geography of Georgia - facts and informations about South Caucasus

Geography of Georgia

- Caucasus travel -

Georgia is strategically located between Europe and Central Asia and Mongolia. Georgia is also situated between the Black sea to the west and the Caucasus mountains to the North. The size of Georgia is roughly the same size of South Carolina or Ireland.

A bit over twice the size of Belgium, 69 700 km2, Georgia enjoys a unique range of climats, from alpine to sub-tropical. Stretching along the northern border that separates it from Russia, the Great Caucasus range peaks at 5642 m. (18 506 feet) making it the tallest mountainous formation in Europe.

In the USSR, Georgia was famous for its beaches stretching from north to south on its western side, along the Black Sea. To the East, Azerbaijan cuts-off Georgia from the Caspian Sea. While to the South, Georgia shares borders with Armenia and Turkey. Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan make-up a group called the Transcaucasus or South Caucasus.

Sakartvelo, as Georgia is known in Georgian, is teeming with streams, rivers, springs and ponds…thus enjoying a wide and exciting variety of fishes. 1/3 of Georgia is covered by ancient forests, protected by more than twenty national parks.

Georgia is a country of contrasts and breathtaking scenery, a gem at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Islam and Christianity.

The mountain ranges in Georgia occupies 80% of the territory and the geological structure is complex. The cultivable areas that extend over 18% of its surface but Georgia is essentially an agricultural country.

The mountain range Sourami crosses the country from north to south and divides into two parts of equal size; climate further accentuates the division, because western Georgia (formerly known under the name of Colchis) has a subtropical climate, the winters sweet and hot and humid summers, while in eastern Georgia (former Iberia) knows temperate winters and hot summers and dry.

To the south, the Little Caucasus is composed of a high plateau dotted with large volcanic lava flows that have come to form terraces. With many folds, the terrain there is far less rugged than the Grand Caucasus. The summit will culminate rarely over 3300 m.

To the west, the plain of Colchis, rich agricultural region, is bordered by the Black Sea.

Hydrography

Georgia is heavily irrigated.

Many rivers quadrillent its territory: Mktvari (1564 km) also known under the name of Koura, the Rioni (527 km) once called "Phasis"; Terek (625 km), Alazani (551 km); the Inguri River (213km). The Aragvi joined the Mtkvari near Mtskhetha and the point of convergence of these two rivers offer a view that should be observed from the Church of Djvari (literally "Church of the Cross") Mtskhetha overhangs.