Geography of Georgia Asia
Georgia, one of the most ancient countries in the world, is located in the region known as the Caucasus or Caucasia, at the cross of Europe and Asia. Georgia is a small country of approximately 69,875 square kilometers—about the size of West Virginia or Switzerland. To the north and northeast, Unable to get map center coordinates, please verify your location! (42, 43.5)
Georgia is located in wrinkled Alpine zone, in Subtropical zones of northern periphery.
In the north, Georgia has a 723 km common border with Russia’s Northern Caucasus federal district. The following Russian republics/subdivisions—from west to east—border Georgia: Krasnodar Krai, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia-Alania, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan. Georgia also shares borders with Azerbaijan (322 km) to the south-east, Armenia (164 km.) to the south, and Turkey (252 km.) to the south-west.
Mountains are the dominant geographic feature of Georgia. The Likhi Range divides the country into eastern and western halves. Historically, the western portion of Georgia was known as Colchis while the eastern plateau was called Iberia. Due to a complex geographic setting, mountains also isolate the northern region of Svaneti from the rest of Georgia.
The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range separates Georgia from the North Caucasian Republics of Russia. The main roads through the mountain range into Russian territory lead through the Roki Tunnel between South and North Ossetia and the Darial Gorge (in the Georgian region of Khevi). The Roki Tunnel is vital for the Russian military in the ongoing 2008 South Ossetia War.
The southern portion of the country is bounded by the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range is much higher in elevation than the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, with the highest peaks rising more than 5,000 meters (16,400 ft) above sea level.
The highest mountain in Georgia is Mount Shkhara at 5,201 meters (17,059 ft), and the second highest is Mount Janga (Jangi-Tau) at 5,051 meters (16,572 ft) above sea level. Other prominent peaks include Kazbegi (Kazbek) at 5,047 meters (16,554 ft), Tetnuldi (4,974 m./16,319ft.), Shota Rustaveli (4,960 m./16,273ft.), Mt. Ushba (4,710 m./15,453ft.), and Ailama (4,525 m./14,842ft.). Out of the abovementioned peaks, only Kazbegi is of volcanic origin. The region between Kazbegi and Shkhara (a distance of about 200 km. along the Main Caucasus Range) is dominated by numerous glaciers. Out of the 2,100 glaciers that exist in the Caucasus today, approximately 30% are located within Georgia.
The geological constitution is characterized by the precipitation is basically of Mesozoic and Cenozoic era. According to the wrinkles it’s divided by several geotectonic units: from North to the South by Caucasian main ring’s Antiklinorium, main Caucasian range, wrinkles system, Georgian Belt, Adjara-Trialeti system, Artvin-Bolnisi Belt and Loc-Karabag’s wrinkled zone.
Georgia has a rich scenic variety: it lies mostly in the Caucasus Mountains, and its northern boundary to Russia is partly defined by the Greater Caucasus range. The Lesser Caucasus range, which runs parallel to the Turkish and Armenian borders, and the Surami and Imereti ranges, which connect the Greater Caucasus and the Lesser Caucasus, create natural barriers that are partly responsible for cultural and linguistic differences among regions. Its western coast is defined by the Black Sea coast.
The largest river is the Mtkvari. The Rioni River, the largest river in western Georgia, has its origin in the Greater Caucasus and empties into the Black Sea at the port of Poti.
The population of Georgia is 4.500 000 inhabitants.
Georgian Tourist Board for more information, see internet site
www.georgia.travel