THE NATURAL WORLD of Georgia / Europe
**No country in Europe possesses such rich flora and fauna as Georgia, nor such a diversity of landscape preserved so close to its original state and in such a small area." (Prof. Michael Succow, from the World Wide Fund for Nature).
**Georgia’s natural environment is one of the most special in the world. Geologically it has more compressed into its surface than many large countries and its landscape diversity ranks in the world’s top twelve. In a mere 67,000 square kilometres (the size of Ireland) you can find 5000 metre peaks; glaciers, alpine meadows; sub-tropical coastline, high desert, semi-desert, fertile alluvial valleys, wetlands and of course large swathes of virgin forest. As a result the riches found in our natural world are exceptional.
**Eco-Tourism
**There are few countries better suited for the eco-tourist. Thanks to its relatively unspoiled status and absence of mass tourism, the amateur botanist/zoologist/birdwatcher will find themselves in a genuine heaven of rare plants, animals and birds. Furthermore they will find a growing population of Georgians keen to show these treasures of their own natural world to visitors.
***Geology
***In a country as physically dramatic and varied as Georgia geology must be counted as a direct tourist attraction. Georgia is like a magnificent landscape sandwich with fertile, alluvial lowlands set between the snowy Greater and Lesser Caucasus mountains. The Caucasus are geologically young mountains, only 25 million years old. Damp Black Sea winds blow in from the west toward the drier but still humid Caspian basin to the east. This gives the whole region plenty of rainfall, so erosion is strong. But still the mountains are growing, pushed up by the collision of tectonic plates below the surface. In Georgia you will find volcanic plateaux (at 3000 metres); high desert (2000 metres); numerous mineral and hot-water springs; wonderful rock formations, naturally carbonated lakes, numerous mineral deposits, precious and semi-precious – all within half a days journey from the capital.
***Animals
***Due to its large areas of uninhabited forest, low levels of tourism and remote high alpine zones Georgia has more species of animal than any country in Europe (except Russia – the largest country in the world). This includes a number of endemic species – perhaps the most notable being the **Caucasian tur **(‘jikhvi’ in Georgian). Related to the European Ibex it comes in two version, eastern and western. The western Capra Caucasica is unique for its splendid laterally curved horns – representations of which are found in ancient Colchean jewellery and pottery found in western Georgia. Besides this Georgia has many animals now departed from western European countries. It has brown bear, lynx, wild boar, bezoar goats, chamois, wolves, jackal, wild cats, a number of endemic butterflies, lizards, snakes and of course numerous tortoises. Recently the critically endangered Anatolian Leopard has been caught on remote cameras in the Vashlovani National park – although it has yet to be seen by naked eye.
**Animal places
*All Georgia’s National Parks
Tbilisi zoo – ***a good place to start. It has a number of Georgia’s wild animals and birds.
***Birdwatching
***Georgia is one of thebird-watching destinations of Europe. It has over 360 recorded species of bird including three endemics (found only here) - Caucasian Black Grouse; Caucasian Snowcock, Caucasian Chiffchaff. All of western Europe has only one endemic. This is partly due to its huge landscape diversity; partly due its position among key migratory corridors. The coast of the Black Sea and our high Caucasian passes are particularly rich in birdlife. As a result Georgia has four vultures and eleven eagles, Flamingos, Bee-eaters, Rosefinches, Black Redstarts, Wall Creepers and numerous kinds of shrike, warbler, finch only rarely found in the rest of Europe. It is often forgotten that the common pheasant found across Europe originates from our own Phasianus Colchicus, now a rarity in Georgia.
**Bird places.
*Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) ***– see all three of Georgia’s endemic birds here as well as the vultures and many eagles and raptors.
David Gareji – a favourite haunt of the beautiful Egyptian Vulture, also many of the lower land finches, shrikes, warblers, larks.
***Svaneti ***- a raptors paradise among the highest mountains and glaciers in Europe.
***Flowers
***The Caucasus are famous for their botanical resource and many flowers and trees found in gardens across the world originated from our landscape. Georgia has between 4000 and 4500 species of vascular plant. Of these an estimated 15% are endemic to the Caucasus with about 300 species endemic to Georgia alone. One such is the dwarf Caucasian rhododendron with its beautiful white and yellow flowers only found high in the mountains. Another is the superb Iris Iberica that gives a white and violet flower every spring.
**Flower places.
*Tbilisi’s Botanical Gardens
Batumi’s Botanical Gardens
Tusheti National Park
Upper Svaneti
Racha
National Parks and Protected Areas
***Georgia has 31 National Parks and Protected Areas identified for conservation – most now up and running. We have so many because our landscape is not only of outstanding natural beauty, it is also over 40% forest, a good proportion of which is genuinely virgin. As a result our flora and fauna are exceptionally rich on international standards - so we have a lot to preserve. We have 16 full-on Nature Reserves (dedicated exclusively for natural self-regeneration with only restricted human access) and four National Parks (established for responsible use and watched over by wardens).
Tusheti National Park – the beautiful mountainous north-east corner of Georgia, bordering Daghestan and Chechnia. Sealed off by high snowy passes 8 months of the year, full of rich grass plateaus, picturesque villages with spectacular dark slate towers, wild rivers and numerous vultures and eagles, Tusheti is one of the little discovered treasures of Georgia. Stay with a Tushetian family, discover their famous warmth of character and hospitality – and eat the local speciality, khinkali (a delicious meat dumpling).
***Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park – ***Georgia’s first effective National Park with preservation orders dating back to Tsarist times – set on the borders of the Lesser Caucasus. Richly forested (much of it virgin) and full of animals, recently these parks have had a number of trails marked out, with tourist shelters built at convenient distances for those wishing to overnight (and not carry tents). For further information: www.nationalpark.ge
Kolhetian National Park – three separate areas of wetland bordering the Black Sea and following the course of the Rioni river. Superb bird-watching location with boat tours and observation hides now available.
Vashlovani National Park – our driest National Park set in the far, south east corner of Georgia, right up against the Azerbaijan border. Home of the critically endangered Anatolian Leopard and many rare raptors.
**Lagodekhi
**Lagodechi National Park is located on the southern slope of the Eastern Caucasus in Kacheti and offers nature lovers hiking through its untouched natural ecosystems, with beautiful lakes and splendid waterfalls. The National Park is home to many endemic species of flora and fauna, including rare plant species such as Mlokosevich’s beautiful peony flower (Paeonia mlokosiewiczi), Lagodekhi’s peony (P. lagodechiana), Primula juliae, Gymnospermium smirnowi). The Park is also home to Brown Bear, wolf, lynx, chamois, roe deer, red deer, East Caucasian tur and wild boar, as well as a variety of birds such as lammergeier, golden eagle, peregrine falcon and Caucasian snowcock. Among amphibians there is the endemic Caucasian parsley frog.
Lagodekhi Managed Nature Reserve was designated in April 2003, with total area of 1,996 ha. It is located between settlements to the south and the Lagodekhi Nature Reserve to the north and consists of a wide network of trails, connecting the forests and alpine meadows.? Visitors can travel by foot or horse along the tourist trails.
For more information, Georgian Tourist Board : www.georgia.travel
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