Georgia is a country of fantastic mountain scenery, decorated with dense forests, as well as beautiful lakes and rivers. Flora and fauna are striking in their diversity, and the warm climate allows you to admire the local beauties for most of the year. This fabulous land lies between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, and from the north the Black Sea adjoins it.
The number of thermal and mineral springs exceeds two thousand. In addition, many balneological resorts with a worldwide reputation are located in areas with therapeutic mud. This article will help you learn more about the nature of Georgia, and you might want to see all its beauty with your own eyes.
Landscape
Mountains cover an area slightly larger than half of the country. The eastern part of Georgia (Kakheti, Kartli and Imereti) is covered with fertile lands that give a rich harvest. In the West lies the Colchis Lowland.
A third of the territory is covered by boreal and coniferous forests, most of them spread along the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains. They like a curtain hide the Black Sea coast, and it is there that the flora is striking in its diversity. Here you can find both alpine meadows and the tropics, and if you are especially lucky, you can even meet relict pines.
Water resources
In Georgia, rivers cover the landscape, like a huge network of 25,000 blue threads, thrown by an unknown giant from a long-forgotten tale. Many thinner branches depart from the main “bodies”, which directly depend on the level of precipitation in the mountains, the melting of glaciers and underground keys.
Kura (Mtkvari) stretches for 1364 kilometers and is the longest of the Georgian rivers. Its source is in eastern Turkey, and it flows into the Caspian Sea. In neighboring Azerbaijan, Kura is also the queen of the rivers.
Mammals
In Georgia, one can meet such forest inhabitants as a brown bear, a brown hare, a fox, a wild forest cat, a lynx, a badger, a jackal, a wolf, roe deer and a Caucasian deer.
In the Greater Caucasus there are also representatives of the highlands: chamois, Dagestan and Kuban tours. In Georgia, animals characteristic of North America (raccoon-raccoon) and the Far East (raccoon dog and tele-squirrel) took root well.
Red Book animals
Among those:
- The leopard has long been considered an extinct species in the Caucasus, but in 2001, zoologists finally attacked its trail and recorded it as a species close to extinction.
- The number of striped hyenas in recent decades has been significantly preserved.
- Jeyrans have practically disappeared, and meeting them is a great success.
- The bezoar goat is also close to extinction.
- Until the 19th century, bison lived in the country.
- Such a unique species as the Turanian tiger disappeared with the onset of the last century.
- In the XX century it is no longer possible to meet the mysterious Black Sea monk seal.
To preserve the species of rare animals, such nature reserves of Georgia as Kintrish, Borjomi, Lagodekhi, Ritsinsky, etc. were created.
Marine life
The nature of Georgia is replete with inhabitants of the water element, therefore, walking along the coast, you can see the splashing bottlenose dolphins, dolphins, white-cages or porpoises. And in the 39th year of the 20th century, a white-bellied seal was seen near Batumi, which was not previously observed in these places.
Georgia’s water resources abound with fish. There live:
- Black Sea salmon;
- sea dogs;
- Sharks
- Beluga
- stingrays;
- sturgeons;
- hamsa and other delicious varieties.
Feathered
The nature of Georgia is rich in birds, of which there are approximately 330 species throughout the country. Of the celestial predators here you can find an eagle, spotted eagle, peregrine falcon, neck, eagle owl and buzzard. And more peaceful representatives of the feathered fauna are the bustard, quail, mountain turkey, pheasant, turach, Persian nightingale and pink starling.
Kazbek
Georgia should be visited at least in order to climb the highest point in the country. Thousands of pilgrims come to this place every year to worship the Gergeti Trinity, sacred to every Orthodox person.
Often, on the southern slopes of the mountains, you can find climbers gambling the five-thousanders of the Caucasian ridge. Moreover, the side facing Georgia, as if created for beginners in this matter, since the rise there is quite smooth.
The cathedral with the bell tower adjoining it crowns the head of Kazbek like a crown, and this view brought a lot of inspiration to great writers and poets. Locals say that the church was built on the site of a destroyed pagan temple, and there are many legends about it.
Miracle
In 1989, during the Christian holiday of the Assumption, believers saw the appearance of the Virgin Mary in the church of Gergeti Trinity. Every year on July 16, millions of tourists flock to the temple, as this is the day of Gergetob's celebration.
An extinct volcano with a height of 5,033 meters attracts many adventure lovers, and it is more than ideal for beginner climbers. There are many legends connected with Kazbek, and among the ancient Greeks it is the place where the titan Prometheus was chained. According to legend, the ancient Gods chained him for giving fire to people.
Conclusion
The top of the mountain is often hidden behind a light veil of clouds, however, according to legend, a sinless person is able to simply not notice it and have enough to look at the amazing view. To check this, you need to see everything with your own eyes at least once in your life.
Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin devoted several admiring lines to this place. Which is not surprising, because Kazbek is one of the most significant symbols of the country. Arriving here once, you will leave your heart here forever, and you will want to come back more than once to enjoy the amazing nature of Georgia.