Georgia - Information, Geography and History

INFORMATION

•  Full name: Republic of Georgia

•  Capital City: Tbilisi

•  Language: Georgian is the official language. Armenian and Russian are also spoken.

•  Currency: Lari

•  Religion: Orthodox Christianity, ethnic Armenian Church, Islam, Roman Catholicism, Jewish.

•  National Anthem: 'Freedom' or 'Dideba zetsit kurtheuls'

•  Newspaper: Georgian Times, The Messenger, Georgia Today

•  Places to Visit: Tbilisi, Vani, Kutaisi, Nokalakevi, Poti, Gudauri, Batumi, Kakheti.

•  Transport : Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is directly connected through air network to cities like Berlin and Frankfurt in Germany, Amsterdam, London, Athens, Istanbul, Moscow, Vienna, Prague and Paris. The major airlines flying to Tbilisi are Austrian Airlines, Air Ukraine, Aeroflot, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, and the national carrier Airzena Georgian Airlines.

•  Road network is also quite developed with highways connecting Tbilisi with Istanbul, although the journey maybe a tedious affair with over 40 hours of ride.

•  Shopping: Georgian ceramics, embroidery, jewelry, wine, brandy, and antique pieces

Location of Georgia

The Republic of Georgia is a picturesque country located in the southeastern parts of Europe sharing its borders with the neighboring countries of Turkey and Armenia in the south, Azerbaijan in the east and Russia in the north. The western coastline of Georgia is bordered by the Black Sea. Georgia can ideally be called a Eurasian country because it is situated at the juncture of Western Asia and Eastern Europe.

Physical Map of Georgia

Georgia is known as the mountainous country wherein the Caucasus Mountains extend along the northern, central and southern side, while the Lesser Caucasus Mountains dictate over the serene landscape, corresponding along the borders of Turkish and Armenia while connecting itself to the Greater Mountainous range of Caucasus. It is due to these ranges the region's linguistic differences thrive in unity.

• Mt. Kazbek: Country's highest peak point, which is about 16,558 ft.
• Mt. Elbrus: Europe's highest point nestled in northern border of Georgia that is about 18,841 ft.
• Brasstown Bald: Georgia's highest point in Georgia that is about 4,784 feet and the lowest being the sea level.

The Kolkhida Lowlands faces the Black Sea in the western part of the country while the Blue Ridge Mountains stand majestically along the northern side of the region. The central region of the area extends from the mountainous foothills that descend along the continental coastal plain near the southern part of the state.

The largest river of this region is Mtkvari, which was previously named as Kura, passes through the northeastern part of the Turkey crossing the eastern plains of Georgia that ultimately ascends into the Caspian Sea. The Rioni River meander along the western part of the Georgia while originating from the Greater Caucasus, finally resides into the Black Sea along the port of Poti. The place is even prone to regular occurrence of earthquakes and landslides.

Climate Of Georgia

Georgia can be identified as a subtropical climatic region, which is affected from the western and eastern Mediterranean influences. The Greater Caucasus ranges act as a barricade against the northern cold air. The Black Sea generates a warm with slightly moist air, slide along the coastal lowlands from the western region. It is the Black sea, which determines the climatic condition of this area. Caucasus Mountain regions have cold winters with heavy snow. Southern part of the region witness mild chilly weather. Hot summers affect the eastern region.

The Kolkhida Lowlands inland especially the region from Abkhazia to the Turkish border is governed with a high level of humidity and intense precipitation.

The eastern Georgia plains are safeguarded through the mountains from the effects of the Black Sea, which witnesses a continental climatic condition round the year. Summers are ranging between 20° C to 24° C, whereas winters tend to amount to 2° C to 4° C. The highland Alpine regions near the east and west are affected with semi-arid weather accompanied with frequent amount of snow and ice. The higher altitude, precipitation is quite recurrent as noticed along the eastern plain.

Flora and fauna of Georgia

Republic of Georgia is home to a rich and varied resource of flora and fauna. The rolling plains and subtropical climate supports the growth of trees such as oak, elm, beech, and black alder.

Amongst the wild animals found in the forests of Georgia the most common are Caucasian antelope, European wild boar, Caucasian goats, mountain goats, leopards and various types of reptiles and amphibians.

There are about 160 assorted species of birds in Georgia, among which the mockingbird, brown thrasher (the state bird), sparrows, snowy egret, bobwhite quail and white ibis can be frequently seen.

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