Georgia is situated on the crossroad of Europe and Asia. From the south-east it has a border with Azerbaijan, from the south – with Armenia and Turkey, from the north – with Russia. The western part of Georgia is washed by the Black Sea. Tbilisi is a capital of Georgia founded in the fifth century.
It is amazing but on this small land there are 26060 rivers and over 40 protected areas. That is why the vast part of the country is occupied by untouched nature. Here we have everything that the traveler can only dream about: mountains of eternal snow, mountain lakes, alpine meadows, canyon rivers full of flowers and fruit, palm coasts, natural canyons, ancient caves, mineral waters and sulfur water pools – thus this place is indeed a heaven on Earth! Georgia is home to the first human outside of Africa who settled down here about 2 million years ago.
Georgia is an ancient country at the crossroads of the Eastern and Western civilizations, where the European and Asian way of life and traditions merge for thousands of years. Indeed this country has a lot of amazing things to show you and tell you! Dmanisi archaeological excavations prove the fact of ancient humans (hominids) living on the territory of Georgia. Human skull recently discovered here is 1.8 million years old and the most ancient on the territory of Europe. It means that Georgia is the homeland of the first European.
GEOGRAPHY
The majestic snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus, the shimmering waters of the Black Sea, forested valleys, fast-flowing winding rivers, flowery glades, endless vineyard and tea plantations, picturesque towns and villages this is our country-Georgia.
Seventy million years ago, the area where now Georgia is, was at the bottom of the huge sea, which covers the whole of Transcaucasia. The land mass rose and the mountains formed as a result of the vast disturbance of the earth crust.
Georgia was one of the cradles of primitive man. Scientists believe that five or six thousand years ago there was a human settlement where Tbilisi now stands.
Georgia is a pivotal (very important) point between Europe and Asia. It is situated in the central and western part of Transcaucasia. In the north Georgia borders on Russia. It is separated from Russia by the GR. Caucasus range. In the east and south-west Georgia borders on Azerbaijan. In the south it borders on Armenia and Turkey. On the west it is washed by the Black Sea. Georgia has an area of 70,000 sq. km. The autonomous republics of Abkhazia and Adjara and the autonomous region of South Ossetia are incorporated into Georgia. Georgia is divides into 65 regions containing 57 towns, the larger of which is its capital Tbilisi.
CLIMATE AND POPULATION
The relief of Georgia is varied: alpine, hilly and plane, but the country has mostly a mountainous relief. The north of Georgia is occupied by the Caucasus range with the eternally snow-capped Mount Kazbek (5047m.). There are many deep valleys with springs, mountain streams and small waterfalls.
Georgia is covered with a net of rivers. Some of them belong to the Black Sea basin. The R. Mtkvari, on which Tbilisi stands, is the longest and the deepest of Georgian rivers. It rises in Turkey and runs through Georgia and flows into the Caspian Sea. The rivers Liakhvi, Ksani, Aragvi, Alazani are the tributaries of the R. Mtkvari.
The climate in Georgia is temperate. Winter is mild. Snow comes in small quantities which melts quickly. From December to February there are some days, when the temperature falls below zero. January is the coldest month. Spring is short with strong March winds and changeable weather. Summer is hot. July is the hottest month. In spring and summer there can be sudden brief but heavy cloudbursts. Autumn in Georgia is the pleasure. In autumn the first snow appears on the mountains usually in the middle of October. The weather is warm and sunny, damp misty days are an exception.