Georgia
A land of endless wonders, unspoilt by modern tourism and still retaining its authentic character – Georgia. Once experienced, it will stay with you forever. Exploring Georgia is a constant pleasure. For walkers and hikers the country is sheer heaven, while botanists and bird-watchers will be simply enthralled and archaeologists can’t decide which of the numerous ancient findings to visit first.
Location
With the towering Caucasus Mountains forming the border between Europe
and Asia, Georgia has long been an important contact zone. In this
mystical land you will be captivated by a thrilling blend of eastern
enigma and western elegance. The traditions of the East and West meet
in Georgia to form a culture unlike any other in the world.
Nature
The following legend adequately describes Georgia’s great natural
beauty: When God apportioned the Earth to all the peoples of the world,
the Georgians arrived late. The Lord asked them why they were tardy.
The Georgians replied that they had stopped on the way to drink and raise
their glasses in praise of Him. God was so pleased with their response
that He gave the Georgians the part of the Earth that He had been reserving
for himself. A visit to Georgia will confirm that this legend is indeed
true: Georgia is a natural paradise.
General Information
Area: 69,700 sq.km
Population: 5,066,500; Georgians - 70%, Armenians - 8%, Azeris - 6%,
Russians 5%, Greeks - 2%.
Language: Georgian (state). Most people also speak Russian.
Religion: Georgian Orthodox (main), Catholic, Muslim, Armenian Gregorian, Jewish
Currency: Lari (GEL), 1 USD = 2.2 GEL (at the time of writing)
Time: + 4 Hrs GMT
Climate: In West Georgia the dominant subtropical climate features high humidity and heavy precipitation, while East Georgia has a more continental and drier climate. The alpine zone begins at about 2,100 metres; above 3,600 meters snow and ice are present year-round. The average summer temperatures range from 20oC to 24oC, average winter temperatures range from 2oC to 4oC.
Airport: 20 km from Tbilisi center (40 GEL - by taxi, 0.5 GEL - by bus)
Museums: Opening hours 11:00 - 16:00 (except Sunday, Monday)
Main Towns: Kutaisi (233,000), Rustavi (150,000), Batumi (130,000), Sokhumi (120,000), Gori (68,000)
High Peaks: Shkhara (5068m), Jangi-tou (5058m), Kazbegi (5047m).
Main Rivers: Mtkvari (Kura) - 1515km (351km in Georgia), Alazani - 407km (390km in Georgia), Rioni (333km).
Main Lakes: Paravani (38 sq.km, depth - 3.3m, 2073m above sea-level), Tabatskuri (14 sq.km, depth - 40m, 2000m above sea-level), Keli (1,3 sq.km. depth - 63m, 2900m above sea-level), Ritsa (1,5 sq.km. depth - 101m, 880m above sea-level)
Electricity: 220 V, 50 H