Landscapes & Ecosystems

Geographical Diversity in a Small Area

Georgia is geographically absurdly diverse. On an area the size of Bavaria, you can find:

The Greater Caucasus (North)

The massive mountain range forms Georgia's northern border with Russia. The Shkhara (5,193 m) is the highest point, followed by Dzhanga (5,059 m) and Kazbek (5,047 m). Glaciers, alpine meadows, coniferous forests, and deep gorges characterize the landscape. In remote valleys like Tusheti and Svaneti, bears, wolves, lynxes, and ibexes live.

Subtropical Coast (West)

Georgia's Black Sea coast is subtropical — with up to 4,500 mm of rainfall per year, one of the wettest places in Europe. Tea plants, citrus fruits, bamboo, and even eucalyptus grow here. The Colchis rainforests (UNESCO) are relics of Europe's tertiary primeval forests.

Central Highlands & Valleys

The fertile Kura Valley runs through Georgia from west to east. Here lie the vineyards of Kakheti, the orchards of Kartli, and the capital Tbilisi. The climate is continental — hot summers, cold winters.

Semi-desert (Southeast)

The David Gareja semi-desert in the southeast is surprising: barren, dry hills reminiscent of Central Asia. Here lies the cave monastery of David Gareja in a lunar landscape.

Wildlife

Georgia's fauna is impressive: brown bears (about 2,500), wolves, Caucasian leopard (extremely rare), ibexes, chamois, bearded vultures, and over 330 bird species. The national parks (Lagodekhi, Tusheti, Borjomi-Kharagauli) protect this diversity.