Georgia (Georgian: საქართველო, transliterated as Sakartvelo) is a country in the Caucasus. It lies at the eastern end of the Black Sea, with Turkey and Armenia to the south, Azerbaijan to the east, and Russia to the north, over the Caucasus Mountains.

Understand

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Georgia is a land filled with magnificent history and unparalleled natural beauty. Archaeologists found the oldest traces of wine production (7000-5000 BC) in Georgia. For those of us in the West, we unfortunately get precious little exposure to this stretch of land between the Black and Caspian seas. However, this is changing drastically.

Georgians are not Russians, Turks or Persians, nor do they have any ethnic connection with other people. However, there are theories which link Georgians to Basque, Corsican and North Caucasian people. Georgia is a multi-ethnic state, the dominant ethnic group are the Kartveli, but other significant Georgian ethnic groups include the Mingreli, Laz, and Svan (all of whom speak Georgian languages distinct from the national language, Kartuli). Georgians are very proud of their own language, which is in its own language group, completely unrelated to Indo-European or Semitic languages. Georgians have been embroiled in struggles against the world’s biggest empires (Roman, Byzantine, Mongol, Persian, Ottoman, Russian, etc) for centuries. This little country was invaded thousands of times and destroyed as many. However, Georgians have managed to preserve their cultural and traditional identity for 5,000 years. The countryside is covered with ancient towered fortifications, many of which house ancient churches (including one of the oldest in Christendom) and monasteries.

Christianity was introduced into Georgia in the first century, and became the official national state religion in the mid fourth century (Georgia was the second nation to adopt Christianity, after Armenia) with the evangelism of St Nino of Capadoccia. The Georgian cross is recognizable, for it was forged by St Nino with grape vines and her own hair. The grape and the vine thus hold important places in Georgian symbolism.

The conversion to Christianity meant that Georgians would have a historical cultural leaning to the West instead of the with the Muslims in the region (Turkey and Persia to the South). Nonetheless, Georgian culture stands at the cross-roads of civilizations. Its culture and traditions are the product of the influence of its neighbors and of its own unique civilization.

During the Soviet era, Georgia was the "Riviera of the Soviet Union" and was renowned for its cuisine and wine. Russians may love vodka, but the Georgian wines were favoured by the Soviet elite. During Soviet era, Georgia flooded Russian markets with high quality tea, wine and fruits. The Georgian Black Sea coast, in particular (Abkhazia and Adjaria), enjoys sub-tropical conditions and beautiful beaches (imagine pine trees and mountains covering the coast line).

Georgia, on the periphery of the Soviet Union, also contributed greatly to the dissolution of the Soviet Union with nationalist calls for independence (and the Georgians have catalyzed the dissolution of empires before). Georgia stood on one of the key routes of the Silk Road and now plays a significant geopolitical role, being located at the crossroads of Central Asia, Russia, Europe, and the Middle East, and currently contains important oil pipelines leading from Azerbaijan to the Turkish Mediterranean coast.

This proud nation is still in transition after the fall of the Soviet Union. Tense relations with Russia (and deepening friendship with the USA and the EU) has led Russia to close its markets to Georgian exports, devastating the Georgian economy.

Imagine cities with narrow side streets filled with leaning houses, overstretched balconies, mangled and twisted stairways, majestic old churches, heavenly food and warm and welcoming people. All of this with a backdrop of magnificent snow peaked mountains, and the best beaches of the Black Sea.

People

The Georgians have exceptionally strong traditions of hospitality, chivalry, and codes of personal honour. They believe that guests come from God. Friendship is prized highest among all the virtues. It is celebrated in Shota Rustaveli's 12th century national epic, The Knight in the Tiger's Skin ("ვეფხისტყაოსანი" or "Vepkhistqaosani"), in which a person's worth is judged the depth of his friendships. The Georgians are proud, passionate, and fiercely individualistic, yet deeply connected with each other by a shared sense of belonging to a greater Georgian family. Women are highly esteemed in society and are accorded a chivalric respect. The statue of Mother of Georgia (kartlis deda) that stands in the hills above Tbilisi perhaps best symbolized the national character: in her left hand she holds a bowl of wine with which she greets her friends and in her right is a sword drawn against her enemies.



Major Cities

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Tbilisi — the beautiful and interesting capital, Georgia's largest and most cosmopolitan city

Akhaltsikhe — the small capital of Samtskhe-Javakheti is near two fabulously beautful tourist destinations: Vardzia and the Sapara Monastery

Batumi — the palm tree lined capital city of Ajara on the Black Sea, near some good swimming

Borjomi — a picturesque small city with famous mineral water, a national park, and a summer palace of the Russian Romanov dynasty

Gori — Stalin's hometown, located next to yet another cave city

Kutaisi — Georgia's second city and the historic capital of ancient Colchis, home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites

Mtskheta — the historic former capital of Georgia, the center of the Georgian Orthodox Church, and another UNESCO World Heritage site is an easy day trip from Tbilisi

Sukhumi — the captial of Abkhazia is a beatiful beach resort up against the mountains, but has suffered from the war and economic embargo

Telavi — the capital of Kakheti is a good jumping off point for nearby wineries, castles, and monasteries

Other destinations

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David Gareja — a 6th century cave monastery on a mountain overlooking the Azerbaijani desert, with beautiful frescos

Mount Kazbeg — one of the highest mountains in ] is also home to one of the most spectacularly situated monasteries in the world

Upper Svaneti — the highest inhabited region of Europe is home to the mysterious Svans and is a UNESCO World Heritage site

Vardzia — a 12th century cave monastery and city overlooking a large river gorge

Uplistsikhe — a 3,600 year old Silk Road cave city that was a major regional center of Caucasian pagan religion

Get in

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Passports, Visas, and other documents
For citizens of Ukraine, US, Canada, EU, Japan and Israel visa will not be required upon entry. A valid passport is sufficient.

Citizens of some other countries can apply for an "urgent entry visa" upon arrival at Tbilisi airport (20 USD cash).

See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for more information. http://www.mfa.gov.ge/?sec_id=66&lang_id=ENG

By plane
There are flights to Tbilisi from a number of European, North American and Asian cities, including London (British Airways), Paris (Airzena), Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Moscow (Aeroflot), Koln/Bonn (GermaniaExpress http://www.gexx.de), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Munich (Lufthansa), Athens (Airzena), Istanbul (Turkish Air). Flights from Prague by Czech Airlines were cancelled; however you can still fly from/to Prague via Georgian Airlines (Airzena). Just recently, KLM also cancelled their flights to Tbilisi but just as in Prague case you can fly with Airzena from/to Amsterdam. Belavia (Belarusian National Airlines) is now offering direct flights from Minsk to Tbilisi at great rates (www.belavia.by).
Please note that Georgian Airlines AirZena has many flights from many different cities. http://www.airzena.com/

By bus

There are direct bus services from Istanbul, Turkey, which stop at various places on the route and terminate in Tbilisi. There are also several non-stop bus services between Tbilisi and Baku, Azerbaijan.

By minibus

There are many minibuses (marshrutka) that operate international routes to and from cities and even large towns in Georgia. Minibuses run between Georgia and Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, and Iraq. In Tbilisi these routes usually originate and terminate at bus stations and the Didube market. Outside Tbilisi, minibus routes may stop at either bus stations or central locations (town squares).

By train

There are train services from Baku, Azerbaijan which stop at various places on the route and terminate in Tbilisi. Note that the "BP train" has been canceled.

By boat

There are boat services to Batumi and Poti from Istanbul and Odessa. At the time of writing the Turkish Black Sea port of Trabzon was closed to passenger services.

Get around

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Taxi

Taxi's in Georgia are the most convenient method of travel and they are very cheap. Trips within Tbilisi it ranges from 3-5 lari depending on distance but you can always negotiate the price with the cab driver. The vast majority of taxis in Georgia are unofficial "gypsy cabs," driven by anyone looking to make some money. Unmarked taxi service in Georgia is exceptionally safe and widely used by foreigners living and visiting the country. Drivers will, however, exaggerate the price for foreigners--it is best to state your destination and your price before getting in the cab.

Minibus

Minibuses (called marshrutka in Russian and Georgian, since it marches along a route) operate on fixed lines. After finding out the number of your route, flag down a Marchriutka at the street. In Tbilisi, they will take you most anywhere for under half a lari.

There are also Minibus lines from city to city. These usually terminate at bus stations and city markets. Their destinations are written in Georgian on a sign in the front window. If you can't find the one you are looking for, ask other marshrutka drivers (30 to 50 tetri).

City Bus

There are brand new Dutch buses operating in Tbilisi. They are comfortable and cheapest way to go around (20 tetri). However, in the country side or outside of the capital the buses are old and slow.

Mountain Travel

To get to the more remote regions of Georgia (e.g., Dusheti, Khevsureti, etc.) without a tour company, buses and taxis will only take you so far. At some point it will become necessary to hike, catch a ride on a goods-transporting truck, or hire a jeep. Catching a lorry requires that you are flexible in your travel plans. Hiring a jeep can actually be quite expensive because of the high cost of gas caused by scarcity in the remote regions. To find out about either option, ask around at the bus station or central market of the last town on the bus or marshrutka line.

Talk

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; Languages : Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia

; Alphabet : Georgian uses the Mkhedruli alphabet, which is unrelated to both Latin and Cyrillic alphabets.

For language-fans, Georgian and its related languages are a real treat. For everyone else, they could be a nightmare. Georgian is a Caucasian language, which is not in any way related to any languages spoken outside of Georgia. The combination of its formidable consonant clusters and its original alphabet make Georgian a hard language to acquire.

While everyone who visits should attempt to learn at least a few Georgian words, it is possible to get by in most areas with Russian. People most likely to understand Russian include: older generations, non-Georgian citizens (Russians, Armenians, Ossetes, Azeris, etc.), members of the elite (who likely also speak English), and taxi drivers. In rural areas, however, it is often more difficult to find Russian speakers (look for the oldest person around!). The younger generation, largely due to hostility towards Russia, now prefers to study English, but because access to good quality English instruction is so low, it is generally not possible to use English to communicate in Georgia. Finally, signs in Georgia are rarely bilingual. Basic knowledge of the Georgian alphabet is very useful to understand road signs, store/restaurant names, and bus destinations. Those traveling without knowledge of Russian or Georgian may have an easier time with a guide.

Georgian phrasebook

Russian phrasebook

Buy

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Gold & Other Jewelry - Gold, silver, handmade & other misc. jewelry, precious stones are very cheap in Georgia and quality of the precious stones, gold and silver is superb. Many foreigners visit Georgia to buy jewelry, because of its cost and quality.

Art & Paintings – Georgian artists, such as Pirosmani, Gigo Gabashvili, David Kakabadze, Lado Gudiashvili, Korneli Sanadze, Elene Akhvlediani, Sergo Kobuladze, Simon Virsaladze, Ekaterine Baghdavadze and others, are famous for their work. In Georgia you will find many various art shops, paintings and painters who sell their works on the streets. Their work is high quality and are often very good values.

Antiques & Other Misc. Gifts – in Georgia you will able to find many antiques not only from Georgia, but Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Russian and European as well.

Georgian wine, as much as you can. Georgia is the cradle of wine making, and with 521 original varieties of grape you will be sure to find exellent wines.

Cognac. Georgian cognac is unique as it's made from Georgian wine. Recommended: Saradjishvili 'Tbilisi' cognac.

When heading outside the cities, you might find an original hand-made carpet for sale.

Georgians love to drink, so the country has an seemingly infinite amount of beers, wines, liquors and distilled drinks. To take home, buy a bottle of chacha, a potent grape vodka somewhat similar to Lebanese Arak.

Note: Georgian export commodities (especially wine and mineral water) are widely counterfeited in the domestic market. For example, the Borjomi bottling plant produces roughly one million bottles of Borjomi per year, but Georgia exports ~three million! To be sure that you are getting the real thing, you will need to buy from the source. Wine in stores is most often produced locally and given a counterfeit label. Be sure to get wine directly from wineries or officially licensed stores, which are usually located near the affiliated winery.

Costs
Currency: Lari, 100 tetri=1 lari

Currency code GEL

Exchange rates:

1 USD = 1,74 GEL (nov 2006)

1 EUR = 2.23 GEL (nov 2006)


Georgia is not expensive at all, especially for an American or European. If you visit Georgia for one week, you would have great time if you bring $700-$800 USD with you. With this amount you will be able to stay in a good hotel, have wonderful sightseeing tours and eat good food. All other items such as gifts & jewelry might require more...For more details try to search and contact travel & tourist agencies.

A budget traveler would have little difficulty getting by (and staying very well fed) on less than 100$ per week, even in the capital.

Eat

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The cuisine of Georgia is justly famous throughout the region (visitors to Moscow will have noticed the amount of Georgian restaurants). The two "national" dishes are "khachapuri" (A cheese filled bread, it more resembles cheese pie) and khinkali (minced, spiced meat in a dumpling, served in enormous quantities). A traditional Georgian feast, or "supra" is a sight to behold.

Drink

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Wine

Georgia has one of the oldest wine-making traditions in the world and has been called the birthplace of wine (also as "Cradle of Wine"), due to archaeological findings which indicate wine production back to 5000 BC. Due to this fact, Georgians have one of the best wines in the world. Thank to the ancient tradition of wine production and amazing climate, Georgian wine holds its strong competition with French and Italian.
Definitely try out Georgian wine. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to export home-bottled wine, which is often the best kind. Georgian wines are actually quite famous. It may be true that they are little known in the West, but this definitely does not include some 280 million people in the former Soviet Union where Georgian wines remain a welcomed drink at any dining table.

Red

Saperavi (საფერავი sah-peh-rah-vee)

Mukuzani (მუკუზანი moo-k'oo-zah-nee)

Khvanchkara (ხვანჭკარა khvahnch-k'ah-rah) - semi-sweet

Kindzmarauli (კინძმარაული keendz-mah-rah-oo-lee) - semi-sweet

White

Tsinandali (წინანდალი ts'ee-nahn-dah-lee)

Kakheti (კახეთი k'ah-kheh-tee)

Tbilisuri (თბილისური tbee-lee-soo-ree)

Imports of Georgian wine and mineral water have been suspended by the Russian government, because of the political tension between the two counties.

Chacha
Georgia's favorite firewater is distilled from grapes, like italian grappa. It tastes nice paired with fresh slices of melon.

Beer

Georgia produces a number of local beers. A beer tradition has existed in Georgia since ancient times in the mountainous regions of Khevsureti and Tusheti. After independence from the Soviet Union, Georgia revived its beer production and introduced its high quality beers to the market. The first and most popular of Georgian beer was Kazbegi. As of today, beer production in Georgia is still growing, offering high quality beers (thanks to the high quality mountain spring waters in Georgia and to German designed beer factories). There are also many foreign beers like Heineken, Bitburger, Lowenbrau, Guinness, etc. Outside of Tbilisi it is very difficult to find anything other than Kazbegi.
Georgian Beer

Kazbegi (ყაზბეგი q'ahz-beh-gee)

Aluda

Natakhtari

Lomisi

Bavariis Herzogi

Argo

Khevsuruli

Tushuri

Mineral Waters

Georgian mineral waters have exceptional and interesting tastes - very different from French and Italian varieties. The most famous Georgian mineral waters are Borjomi (ბორჯომი bohr-joh-mee) and Nabeglavi (ნაბეღლავი nah-beh-ghlah-vee). But there is a plethora of less well-known springs located in small towns and alongside roads throughout the country that is worth sampling.

Lagidze Waters (Soft Drink)

Mitrofan Lagidze (ლაღიძე lah-ghee-dzeh) is a surname of a very famous Georgian businessman of the 19th century who produced very popular soft drinks in Georgia. Nowadays these waters are called “the Lagidze Waters.” Lagidze soft drinks are made only with natural fruit components, without any chemical, artificial sugars or other additives. The most popular flavors are tarragon and pear. You can find them bottled in stores, and there is a Lagidze parlor on Rustaveli street where they serve the syrup from an old-fashioned dispenser and dilute it with mineral water.

Sleep

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Outside of Tbilisi (where there are numerous options for 3 star plus accommodation thanks the the NGO presence in the country) western-style hotels have not made much inroads and crumbling Soviet infrastructure remains the mainstays of most hotels. Accordingly, outside the capital private homes are always the cheapest and most enjoyable option. If you can master a little basic Russian, going to the central square or market will probably land you a lovely big bed and some amazingly fresh home-made food for an agreed price.

Work

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Georgians are hard-working people in general, but they also like to have enough free time to enjoy life. Work can start at 10AM or 11AM and end at 6-7PM or so. Georgians like to take an hour lunch break and enjoy their food while socializing with their co-workers. People often take two weeks or whole month off work to enjoy a vacation with family. It is in many ways similar to southern Europe and Mediterranean. Approaches to punctuality are very relaxed - don't be surprised or offended if your Georgian compatriots are not right on time!

Stay Safe

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The majority of Georgia is safe for travelers. Scammers and thieves do not usually single out tourists, perhaps because there are very few tourists in Georgia. In the cities, usual street-smart caution applies.

Corruption, once a big hassle for tourists, has become far less visible since the Rose Revolution. It is now safe and reasonable to trust the Georgian police and the infamously corrupt traffic police has been disbanded.

By far the greatest danger to visitors of Georgia is traffic. Georgian norms of driving are dominated by a macho, chivalric code that entails no seatbelts and, after dark, no headlights. Drivers do not give way to pedestrians, so be very careful when crossing the street. There is currently no traffic police in Georgia.

Tbilisi
Things in Tbilisi and the surrounding countryside have calmed down a lot in the last 2 years or so. Tbilisi sometimes suffers from an unjust reputation for street crime but muggings are rare. There has been, however, an increase in muggings targeting Westerners within the capital over the past few years. Usual urban caution applies--avoid walking alone after dark and stay aware of your surroundings. The safest way to travel around the city after dark is by taxi, which is also very affordable. Locals insist that muggings are exceptionally likely in the non-urban areas around the city (in the mountains and parks).

The other dangerous crime-related hazards in Tbilisi are apartment break-ins and carjacking. There is no evidence to suggest that these crimes target travelers, but carjackers most certainly do target nicer cars, which stand out. Pick pocketing and purse snatching are also nuisances, easily resolved by keeping belongings within inside pockets. These forms of theft are especially common on crowded public transport.

Kutaisi

The available evidence suggests that Kutaisi, the second largest city in Georgia, suffers from crime rates significantly higher than the national average. It is especially important to exercise caution in Kutaisi after dark.

Adjara

The separatist conflict between Adjara and the central government has ended with little violence and it is now perfectly safe to travel throughout the region. Once rampant corruption has now become a rarity for travelers. Passing through customs at the Sarpi-Hopa border crossing is now routine and uneventful for most tourists.

The Mountains

The mountainous areas of Georgia are remote and lightly policed. The principal danger to travelers in these areas is kidnapping, although this is rare. If kidnapped in Georgia, do not expect to be beheaded. The majority of kidnapping incidents within the country have ended quickly, as the kidnappers befriend their victims and let them go in a Georgian show of chivalric magnanimity.

The safest and most easily visited regions of the Georgian Upper Caucasus are Kazbegi and Racha. The biggest security hazard in these regions is altitude sickness.

Previous worries of instability in the Georgian northeast, near the border with Chechnya, have subsided and the Pankisi Gorge is certainly not considered as dangerous a region to visit as Abkhazia or South Ossetia.

Svaneti is perhaps the most romantic and mysterious of all Georgian regions, but its inhabitants, the Svans, have a reputation for fierce independence and distrust of outsiders (as well as legendary hospitality for accepted guests). Travelers should exercise exceptional caution when visiting Svaneti. It is best to visit with a local guide.

Separatist Regions

It is not safe to travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia. These regions are not under the control of the national government and are marked by punctuated violence between the Georgian military and separatist militant groups and by very high rates of crime/banditry facilitated by the fact that the central government cannot police these areas. Foreign tourists have been kidnapped in these areas. Moreover, there exists no legal jurisdiction within these regions; accordingly you will have no recourse if your passport is stolen. If traveling to these areas, it is advisable to bring an armed escort.

Stay healthy

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In Georgia, especially in Tbilisi you will be able to find many gyms and fitness centers with swimming pools and brand new training equipment, where you will be able to work out. Facilities include:

Vake Fitness, Chavchavadzis Gamziri 49b. It is a large, modern place with a big swimming pool.

Tbilisi Marriott Hotel, Rustavelis Gamziri 13.

Giardia is a common threat to foreign visitors. Contraction is most likely via:

tap water

swallowed water from lakes, rivers, pools, or jacuzzis

raw fruits & vegetables

unpasteurized milk or other dairy products

Respect

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Georgians are hospitable to a fault (and beyond). If a Georgian invites you somewhere it will be almost impossible to pay for anything and even raising the subject of who will cover the bill can be embarrassing for your host. If invited to a private home for dinner, make sure you arrive amply stocked with wine or sweets because your hosts may well be bankrupting themselves on your behalf.

If traveling in small towns (and in the quieter parts of Tbilisi) it is customary to greet almost everyone who passes you with a friendly "Gamarjobat" (Hello). After years of isolation followed by war and economic turmoil foreigners are still regarded with undisguised curiosity and a casual greeting in the street could land you in the middle of the best dinner party of your life.

It is a very ingrained and idiosyncratic characteristic of Georgian hospitality that Georgians wish nothing more than to hear that foreigners are enjoying their experience in Georgia. Expect to be asked whether you enjoy Georgia and its cuisine. And it is expected that you respectfully reply in the affirmative. Otherwise your "hosts" will look terribly dejected as if expressing a feeling of collective failure to show visitors enough hospitality.

Contact

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By phone
Georgia uses GSM (900 MHz and 1800 MHz) for mobile phones and there are two providers, Geocell and Magticom (two prepaid brands "Bali" (cherry) and "Magti"). Coverage is quite good and you should be able to use your phone in most non-mountainous areas provided is supports the afore mentioned technologies. Check with your mobile provider to ensure that they have roaming agreements with at least one of the Georgian operators.
By beginning of June 2006 Magticom launched its UMTS/3G service including video call and high speed data. Roaming is possible if you own a UMTS capable mobile phone.

In general international connections may be very poor due to international VoiP gateways. In this case redialling is the best solution.

Internet

DSL is available in Georgia.

Caucasus Network

Georgia Online

By net
In major hotels WLAN service is available.

Internet cafés are common and cheap. Some places offer free WLAN to their customers. The places I know of are Café Nikala on Rustavelis Gamziris, and the Fashion TV Bar, also on Rustaveli.

However, I never got it to work in the first place. Make sure to have your DNS settings correct: use 213.157.196.130 as primary and 213.157.196.131 as secondary DNS server.





Georgia (საქართველო, transliterated as Sakartvelo) is a Eurasian country in the Caucasus at the east coast of the Black Sea. It is bordered on the north by Russia, on the south by Turkey and Armenia, and on the east by Azerbaijan. It is a transcontinental country, located at the juncture of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Georgia has a rich and ancient cultural heritage. Its civilization goes back more than three thousand years.

The territory of modern-day Georgia has been continuously inhabited since the early Stone Age. The classic period saw the rise of the early Georgian states of Colchis and Iberia, which laid the foundation of Georgian culture and eventual statehood. The Georgian nation first appear in written history in the 12th century B.C. Archaeological finds and references in ancient sources reveal advancement of early Georgian political and state formations - their urban heritage and advanced metallurgy and goldsmith techniques that date back to the 7th century B.C. and beyond. In the 4th century B.C. a unified kingdoms of Georgia - an early example of advanced state organization under one king and the hierarchy of aristocracy, was established.

Christianity came to Georgia with its first missionaries and it was declared the state religion as early as 337 A.D. The conversion to Christianity provided a great stimulus to literature and the arts and helped to unify the country. Early and medieval Christian scholarship, the links with the rest of the Christian world and dynamic exchange with the Islamic world, together with the development of national literature and the political consolidation of the state in the 11th century A.D. culminated in a true renaissance in the 12-13th centuries A.D.

This early Georgian renaissance, which preceded its European analogue by several hundred years, was significant and was characterized by magnificent secular art and culture, the flourishing of a romantic- chivalric tradition, breakthroughs in philosophy, and an array of political innovations in society and state organization, including religious and ethnic tolerance. The Golden age of Georgia left a legacy of great cathedrals, romantic poetry and literature, and the epic poem "The Knight in the Panther's Skin. This Golden Age was interrupted at its peak by the Mongol Invasion in the 13th century A.D. Throughout the next six centuries, Georgia fell victim to repeated invasions by Persians and Turks, resulting in disintegration of the Georgian state into small kingdoms. Due to this national crisis, in 1783 Georgia signed the Treaty of Georgievsk with the Russian Empire, placing the eastern Georgian kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti under the Russian protectorate. Despite Russia's commitment to defend Georgia, it rendered no assistance when the Turks invaded in 1785 and again in 1795. Afterwards, The Russians illegally annexed Georgia in 1801 and deposed the Bagrationi dynasty.

A few decades later, Georgian society produced a modernist nationalistic elite which united Georgian society around the dream of the restoration of their once glorious state. In 1918, this dream was fulfilled and the Democratic Republic of Georgia(1918-1921) was established. This democratic experiment was short-lived, as in 1921 Georgia was occupied by Bolshevik Russia. Georgia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1922. Georgia gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and, after a period of civil war and severe economic crisis, Georgia was mostly stable by the late 1990s. The bloodless Rose Revolution of 2003 installed a new, pro-Western reformist government that aspired to join NATO and attempted to bring the secessionist territories back under Georgia's control. These efforts resulted in a deterioration of relations with Russia, in part because of the continued presence of Russian troops. As of 2007, most Russian military forces have been withdrawn, with the last remaining base in Batumi scheduled for Russian withdrawal in 2008.

Georgia's landscapes range from alpine in the Caucasus Mountains to subtropical along the Black Sea coast, making the country an attractive location for tourism. Agriculture -- especially wine-making traditions -- date back to prehistoric times, and still account for an important share of the nation's economy. The recent economic developments brought the country within the scope of major Eurasian energetic projects.

Georgia is a representative democracy, organized as a unitary, semi-presidential republic. Georgia is currently a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the World Trade Organization and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, and seeks integration with the European Union and NATO.

Etymology

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Ancient Greeks (Strabo, Herodotus, Plutarch, Homer, etc.) and Romans (Titus Livius, Cornelius Tacitus, etc.) referred to early eastern Georgians as Iberians (Iberoi in some Greek sources) and western Georgians as Colchians. .

Georgians call themselves Kartvelebi (ქართველები), their land Sakartvelo (საქართველო), and their language Kartuli (ქართული). According to legend the ancestor of the Kartvelian people was Kartlos, the great grandson of the Biblical Japheth. The terms Georgia and Georgians appeared in Western Europe in numerous medieval annals. The name has been mistakenly supposed to be derived from the country's patron St. George.

In Old Persian Eastern lands of Georgia were called vrkan and their inhabitants vrk (origin unknown), which is the origin of the Old Armenian term virk for Kartli. In New Persian the term transformed into Gurğān (Gurgjan), or "Gurğ people", which have led to the name of Georgian in Turkic and Slavic languages, and probably European ones as well (probably via Turkish Gürcü ("Gurdju") /:tr:Gürcistan|Gürcistan ).

Some also believed that Georgia was so named by the Greeks on account of its agricultural resources, since "Georgia" (γεωργία) means "farming" in Greek. However, the true origin of the name Georgia is still disputed.

History

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The history of Georgia and the Georgian nation dates back 5,000 years.

Georgia in antiquity
Two early Georgian kingdoms of late antiquity, known to ancient Greeks and Romans as Iberia (იბერია) in the east of the country and Colchis (კოლხეთი) in the west, were among the first nations in the region to adopt Christianity (in 337 AD, or in 319 AD as recent research suggests.).

In Greek Mythology, Colchis was the location of the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and the Argonauts in Apollonius Rhodius' epic tale Argonautica. The incorporation of the Golden Fleece into the myth may have derived from the local practice of using fleeces to sift gold dust from rivers. Known to its natives as Egrisi or Lazica, Colchis often saw battles between the rival powers of Persia and the Byzantine Empire, both of which managed to conquer Western Georgia from time to time. As a result, those Kingdoms disintegrated into various feudal regions by the early Middle Ages. This made it easy for Arabs to conquer Georgia in the 7th century. The rebellious regions were liberated and united into a unified Georgian Kingdom at the beginning of the 11th century. Starting in the 12th century AD, the rule of Georgia extended over a significant part of the Southern Caucasus, including the northeastern parts and almost the entire northern coast of what is now Turkey.

Medieval Georgia
The Georgian Kingdom reached its zenith in the 12th to early 13th centuries. This period has been widely termed as Georgia's Golden Age or Georgian Renaissance. The revival of the Georgian Kingdom was short-lived however, and the Kingdom was eventually subjugated by the Mongols in 1236. Thereafter, different local rulers fought for their independence from central Georgian rule, until the total disintegration of the Kingdom in the 15th century. Neighbouring kingdoms exploited the situation and from the 16th century, the Persian Empire and the Ottoman Empire subjugated the eastern and western regions of Georgia, respectively.

The rulers of regions which remained partly autonomous organised rebellions on various occasions. Subsequent Persian and Turkish invasions further weakened local kingdoms and regions. As a result of wars against neighbouring countries, the population of Georgia was reduced to 250,000 inhabitants at one point.

Within the Russian Empire
In 1783 Russia and the eastern Georgian kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti signed the Treaty of Georgievsk, according to which Kartli-Kakheti received protection by Russia. This, however, did not prevent Tbilisi from being sacked by the Persians in 1795.

On December 22, 1800, Tsar Paul I of Russia, at the alleged request of the Georgian King George XII, signed the Proclamation on the incorporation of Georgia (Kartli-Kakheti) within the Russian Empire. On January 8, 1801 Tsar Paul I of Russia signed a decree on the incorporation of Georgia (Kartli-Kakheti) within the Russian Empire which was confirmed by Tsar Alexander I on September 12 1801. The Georgian envoy in Saint Petersburg reacted with a note of protest that was presented to the Russian vice-chancellor Prince Kurakin. In May 1801, Russian General Carl Heinrich Knorring dethroned the Georgian heir to the throne David Batonishvili and instituted a government headed by General Ivan Petrovich Lasarev.

The Georgian nobility did not accept the decree until April 1802 when General Knorring compassed the nobility in Tbilisi's Sioni Cathedral and forced them to take an oath on the Imperial Crown of Russia. Those who disagreed were arrested temporarily.

In the summer of 1805, Russian troops on the Askerani River near Zagam defeated the Persian army and saved Tbilisi from conquest.

In 1810, after a brief war, the western Georgian kingdom of Imereti was annexed by Tsar Alexander I of Russia. The last Imeretian king and the last Georgian Bagrationi ruler Solomon II died in exile in 1815. From 1803 to 1878, as a result of numerous Russian wars against Turkey and Iran, several territories were annexed to Georgia. These areas (Batumi, Akhaltsikhe, Poti, and Abkhazia) now represent a large part of the territory of Georgia.

The principality of Guria was abolished in 1828, and that of Samegrelo (Mingrelia) in 1857. The region of Svaneti was gradually annexed in 1857–59.

Brief independence period and Soviet era

After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Georgia declared independence on May 26, 1918 in the midst of the Russian Civil War. The parliamentary election was won by the Georgian Social-Democratic Party, considered to be a party of Mensheviks, and its leader, Noe Zhordania, became the prime minister. In 1918 a Georgian–Armenian war erupted over parts of Georgian provinces populated mostly by Armenians which ended due to British intervention. In 1918–19 Georgian general Giorgi Mazniashvili led a Georgian attack against the White Army led by Moiseev and Denikin in order to claim the Black Sea coastline from Tuapse to Sochi and Adler for independent Georgia. The country's independence did not last long, however.


In February 1921 Georgia was attacked by the Red Army. Georgian troops lost the battle and the Social-Democrat government fled the country. On February 25 1921 the Red Army entered the capital Tbilisi and installed a puppet communist government led by Georgian Bolshevik Filipp Makharadze, but the Soviet rule was firmly established only after the 1924 revolt was brutally suppressed. Georgia was incorporated into the Transcaucasian SFSR uniting Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The TFSSR was disaggregated into its component elements in 1936 and Georgia became the Georgian SSR.

The Georgian-born communist radical Ioseb Jughashvili, better known by his nom de guerre Stalin (from the Russian word for steel: сталь) was prominent among the Russian Bolsheviks, who came to power in the Russian Empire after the October Revolution in 1917. Stalin was to rise to the highest position of the Soviet state.

From 1941 to 1945, during World War II, almost 700,000 Georgians fought as Red Army soldiers against Nazi Germany. (A number also fought with the German army). About 350,000 Georgians died in the battlefields of the Eastern Front. Also during this period the Chechen, Ingush, Karachay and the Balkarian peoples from the Northern Caucasus, were deported to Siberia for alleged collaboration with the Nazis. With their respective autonomous republics abolished, the Georgian SSR was briefly granted some of their territory, until 1957.

The Dissidential movement for restoration of Georgian statehood started started to gain popularity in the 1960s. Among the Georgian dissidents, one of the most prominent activists was Merab Kostava and Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Disidents were heavily persecuted by Soviet government and their activities were harshly suppressed. Almost all members from Georgian dissident circles were imprisoned by the Soviet authorities.

The Georgian Eduard Shevardnadze, the USSR's minister for foreign affairs, was one of the main architects of the Perestroika reforms of the late 1980s. During this period, Georgia developed a vigorous multiparty system which strongly favoured independence. The country staged the first democratic, multiparty parliamentary elections in the Soviet Union on October 28, 1990. From November 1990 to March 1991, one of the leaders of the National Liberation movement, Dr Zviad Gamsakhurdia, was the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia (the Georgian parliament).

Post-Soviet independence

On 9 April 1989, a peaceful demonstration in the Georgian capital Tbilisi ended in a massacre in which several people were killed by Soviet troops. This incident launched an anti-Soviet mass movement, soon shattered, however, by the in-fighting of its different political wings. Before the October 1990 elections to the national assembly, the Umaghiesi Sabcho (Supreme Council) — the first polls in the USSR held on a formal multi-party basis — the political landscape was reshaped again. While the more radical groups boycotted the elections and convened an alternative forum (National Congress), another part of the anticommunist opposition united into the Round Table—Free Georgia (RT-FG) around the former dissidents like Merab Kostava and Zviad Gamsakhurdia. The latter won the elections by a clear margin, with 155 out of 250 parliamentary seats, whereas the ruling Communist Party (CP) received only 64 seats. All other parties failed to get over the 5%-threshold and were thus allotted only some single-member constituency seats.

On April 9, 1991, shortly before the collapse of the USSR, Georgia declared independence. On May 26, 1991, Zviad Gamsakhurdia was elected as a first President of independent Georgia. However, Gamsakhurdia was soon deposed in a bloody coup d'état, from December 22, 1991 to January 6, 1992. The coup was instigated by part of the National Guards and a paramilitary organization called "Mkhedrioni". The country became embroiled in a bitter civil war which lasted almost until 1995. Eduard Shevardnadze returned to Georgia in 1992 and joined the leaders of the coup — Kitovani and Ioseliani — to head a triumvirate called the "State Council".

In 1995, Shevardnadze was officially elected as a president of Georgia, and reelected in 2000. At the same time, two regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, quickly became embroiled in disputes with local separatists that led to widespread inter-ethnic violence and wars. Supported by Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia achieved and maintained de facto independence from Georgia. More than 250,000 Georgians were ethnically cleansed from Abkhazia by Abkhaz separatists and North Caucasians volunteers, (including Chechens) in 1992-1993. More than 25,000 Georgians were expelled from Tskhinvali as well, and many Ossetian families were forced to abandon their homes in the Borjomi region and move to Russia.

In 2003 Shevardnadze was deposed by the Rose Revolution, after Georgian opposition and international monitors asserted that the November 2 parliamentary elections were marred by fraud. The revolution was led by Mikheil Saakashvili, Zurab Zhvania and Nino Burjanadze, former members and leaders of Shavarnadze's ruling party. Mikheil Saakashvili was elected as President of Georgia in 2004.

Following the Rose Revolution, a series of reforms was launched to strengthen the country's military and economic capabilities. The new government's efforts to reassert the Georgian authority in the southwestern autonomous republic of Ajaria led to a major crisis early in 2004. Success in Ajaria encouraged Saakashvili to intensify his efforts, but without success, in the breakaway South Ossetia.

Government and politics

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Following a crisis involving allegations of ballot fraud in the 2003 parliamentary elections, Eduard Shevardnadze resigned as president on November 23, 2003 in the bloodless Rose Revolution. The interim president was the speaker of the outgoing parliament (whose replacement was annulled), Nino Burjanadze. On January 4, 2004 Mikheil Saakashvili, leader of the National Movement - Democrats (NMD) (former United National Movement) won the country's presidential election and was inaugurated on January 25.
Fresh parliamentary elections were held on March 28 where NMD secured the vast majority of the seats (with ca. 75% of the votes) with only one other party reaching the 7% threshold (the Rightist Opposition with ca. 7.5%). The vote is believed to have been one of the freest ever held in independent Georgia although an upsurge of tension between the central government and the Ajarian leader Aslan Abashidze affected the elections in this region. Despite recognizing progress the OSCE noted the tendency to misuse state administration resources in favor of the ruling party.

The tension between the Georgian government and that of Ajaria grew increasingly after the elections until late April. Climaxing on May 1 when Abashidze responded to military maneuvers held by Georgia near the region with having the three bridges connecting Ajaria and the rest of Georgia over the Choloki River blown up. On May 5, Abashidze was forced to flee Georgia as mass demonstrations in Batumi called for his resignation and Russia increased their pressure by deploying Security Council secretary Igor Ivanov.

On February 3 2005, Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania allegedly died of carbon monoxide poisoning in an apparent gas leak at the home of Raul Usupov, deputy governor of Kvemo Kartli region. Later, Zhvania's close friend and a long-time ally, Finance Minister Zurab Nogaideli has been appointed for the post by President Saakashvili.

Since coming to power in 2003, Saakashvili has boosted spending on the country's armed forces and increased its overall size to around 26,000. Of that figure, 5,000 have been trained in advanced techniques by U.S. military instructors. Some of these troops have been stationed in Iraq as part of the international coalition in the region, serving in Baqubah and the Green Zone of Baghdad. In May 2005, the 13th Infantry Battalion ("Shavnabada") became the first full battalion to serve outside of Georgia. This unit was responsible for two checkpoints to the Green Zone, and provided security for the Iraqi Parliament. In October 2005, the unit was replaced by the 21st Infantry Battalion. Soldiers of the 13th battalion wear the "combat patches" of the American unit they served under, the Third Infantry Division.
The Georgian government claims to have restored "constitutional order" in the upper Kodori Gorge — the sole Georgia-controlled part of breakaway region Abkhazia.

Georgia has in the past few years significantly reduced corruption. Transparency International places Georgia at joint number 99th in the world in its 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index (with number 1 being considered the least corrupt nation). This is a significant improvement on Georgia's 2005 Corruption Perceptions Index, where Georgia was rated joint 130th.

Foreign relations

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Georgia maintains good relations with its direct neighbours Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey and participates actively in regional organizations, such as the Black Sea Economic Council and the GUAM. Georgia also maintains close political, economic and military relations with Ukraine.

The growing US and European Union influence in Georgia, notably through the Train and Equip military assistance programme and the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, have frequently strained Tbilisi’s relations with Russia.

Georgia is currently working to become a full member of NATO. In August of 2004, the Individual Partnership Action Plan of Georgia was submitted officially to NATO. On October 29, 2004, the North Atlantic Council of NATO approved the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) of Georgia and Georgia moved on to the second stage of Euro-Atlantic Integration. In 2005, by the decision of the President of Georgia, a state commission was set up to implement the Individual Partnership Action Plan, which presents an interdepartmental group headed by the Prime Minister. The Commission was tasked with coordinating and controlling the implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan.

On February 14, 2005, the agreement on the appointment of Partnership for Peace (PfP) liaison officer between Georgia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization came into force, whereby a liaison officer for the South Caucasus was assigned to Georgia. On March 2, 2005, the agreement was signed on the provision of the host nation support to and transit of NATO forces and NATO personnel. On March 6-9, 2006, the IPAP implementation interim assessment team arrived in Tbilisi. On April 13, 2006, the discussion of the assessment report on implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan was held at NATO Headquarters, within 26+1 format. In 2006, the Georgian parliament voted unanimously for the bill which calls for integration of Georgian into NATO. Majority of Georgians and politicians in Georgia, support the strive for NATO membership. Currently, it is expected that Georgia will join NATO in 2009.

George W. Bush became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the country. The street leading to Tbilisi International Airport has since been dubbed George W. Bush Avenue.

From the European commission website: President Saakashvili views membership of the EU and NATO as a long term priority. As he does not want Georgia to become an arena of Russia-US confrontation he seeks to maintain close relations with the United States and European Union, at the same time underlining his ambitions to advance co-operation with Russia.

On October 2, 2006, Georgian and the European Union signed a joint statement on the agreed text of the Georgia-European Union Action Plan within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The Action Plan was formally approved at the EU-Georgia Cooperation Council session on November 14 2006 in Brussels.

On February 2, 2007, Georgia officially became the most recent regional member of the Asian Development Bank. They currently hold 12,081 shares in the bank, 0.341 percent of the total.

Regions, republics, and districts

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Georgia is divided into 9 regions, 2 autonomous republics (avtonomiuri respublika), and 1 city (k'alak'i). The regions are further subdivided into 69 districts (raioni).

There are two autonomous republics, Abkhazia and Ajaria.

Currently, the status of South Ossetia, a former autonomous administrative district, also known as the Tskhinvali region, is being negotiated with the Russian-supported separatist government. Kodori Gorge is the only part of Abkhazia that remains under effective Georgian control.

Major cities include: Batumi, Chiatura, Gagra, Gori, Kutaisi, Poti, Rustavi, Sukhumi, Tbilisi, Tkibuli, Tskaltubo, Tskhinvali.

The Districts of Georgia are: Abasha, Adigeni, Akhalgori, Akhalkalaki, Akhaltsikhe, Akhmeta, Ambrolauri, Aspindza, Baghdati, Batumi, Bolnisi, Borjomi, Chiatura, Chkhorotsku, Chokhatauri, Dedoplistskaro, Dmanisi, Dusheti, Gagra, Gali, Gardabani, Gori, Gudauta, Gulripshi, Gurjaani, Java, Kareli, Kaspi, Kedi, Kharagauli, Khashuri, Khelvachauri, Khobi, Khoni, Khulo, Kobuleti, Kutaisi, Kvareli, Lagodekhi, Lanchkhuti, Lentekhi, Marneuli, Martvili, Mestia, Mtskheta, Ninotsminda, Oni, Ozurgeti, Poti, Rustavi, Sachkhere, Sagarejo, Samtredia, Senaki, Shuakhevi, Sighnaghi, Sukhumi, Stepantsminda, Telavi, Terjola, Tetritskaro, Tianeti, Tkibuli, Tsageri, Tskhinvali, Tsalenjikha, Tsalka, Tskaltubo, Vani, Zestaponi, and Zugdidi.

Main cities:

Tbilisi 1,066,100 (metro area 1,270,800)

Kutaisi 183,300

Batumi 116,900

Geography and climate

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In the north, Georgia has a 723 km common border with Russia, specifically with the Northern Caucasus federal district. The following Russian republics/subdivisions — from west to east — border Georgia: Krasnodar Krai, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia-Alania, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan. Georgia also shares borders with Azerbaijan (322 km) to the south-east, Armenia (164 km.) to the south, and Turkey (252 km.) to the south-west.

Mountains are the dominant geographic feature of Georgia. The Likhi Range divides the country into eastern and western halves. Historically, the western portion of Georgia was known as Colchis while the eastern plateau was called Iberia. Due to a complex geographic setting, mountains also isolate the northern region of Svaneti from the rest of Georgia.

The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range separates Georgia from the North Caucasian Republics of Russia. The southern portion of the country is bounded by the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. The main Caucasus Range is much higher in elevation than the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, with the highest peaks rising more than 5,000 meters (16,400ft.) above sea level.

The highest mountain in Georgia is Mount Shkhara at 5,201 meters (17,059 feet), and the second highest is Mount Janga (Jangi-Tau) at 5,051 meters (16,572 feet) above sea level. Other prominent peaks include Kazbegi (Kazbek) at 5,047 meters (16,554 feet), Tetnuldi (4,974m./16,319ft.), Shota Rustaveli (4,960m./16,273ft.), Mt. Ushba (4,710m./15,453ft.), and Ailama (4,525m./14,842ft.). Out of the abovementioned peaks, only Kazbegi is of volcanic origin. The region between Kazbegi and Shkhara (a distance of about 200 km. along the Main Caucasus Range) is dominated by numerous glaciers. The Lesser Caucasus Mountains are made up of various, interconnected mountain ranges (largely of volcanic origin) that do not exceed 3,400 meters (approximately 11,000 feet). Prominent features of the area include the Javakheti Volcanic Plateau, numerous lakes, including Tabatskuri and Paravani, as well as mineral water and hot springs.

The Voronya Cave (aka Krubera-Voronia Cave) is the deepest known cave in the world. It is located in the Arabika Massif of the Gagra Range, in Abkhazia, Georgia, Caucasus. The height difference in the cave is 2,140 (± 9) metres. The same cave set the previous record for depth at 1,710 metres in 2001 by a Russian–Ukrainian team. In 2004 the penetrated depth was increased on each of three expeditions. At that point the Ukrainian team crossed the –2000 m mark for the first time in the history of speleology. In October 2005, a new, unexplored part was found by CAVEX team, and the cave became even deeper. This expedition confirmed the depth of the cave which is now – 2,140 (± 9) metres deep.

Two major rivers in Georgia are the Rioni and the Mtkvari.

Landscape

The landscape within the nation's boundaries is quite varied. Western Georgia's landscape ranges from low-land marsh-forests, swamps, and temperate rain forests to eternal snows and glaciers, while the eastern part of the country even contains a small segment of semi-arid plains characteristic of Central Asia. Forests cover around 40% of Georgia's territory while the alpine/subalpine zone accounts for roughly around 10% of the land.

Much of the natural habitat in the low-lying areas of Western Georgia has disappeared over the last 100 years due to the agricultural development of the land and urbanization. The large majority of the forests that covered the Colchis plain are now virtually non-existent with the exception of the regions that are included in the national parks and reserves (i.e. Paleostomi Lake area). At present, the forest cover generally remains outside of the low-lying areas and is mainly located along the foothills and the mountains. Western Georgia's forests consist mainly of deciduous trees below 600 meters (1,968 ft.) above sea level and comprise of species such as oak, hornbeam, beech, elm, ash, and chestnut. Evergreen species such as box may also be found in many areas. Ca. 1000 of all 4000 higher plants of Georgia are endemic in this country. The west-central slopes of the Meskheti Range in Ajaria as well as several locations in Samegrelo and Abkhazia are covered by temperate rain forests. Between 600–1,500 meters (1,968-4,920 ft.) above sea level, the deciduous forest becomes mixed with both broad-leaf and coniferous species making up the plant life. The zone is made up mainly of beech, spruce, and fir forests. From 1,500-1,800 meters (4,920-5,904 ft.), the forest becomes largely coniferous. The tree line generally ends at around 1,800 meters (5,904 ft.) and the alpine zone takes over, which in most areas, extends up to an elevation of 3,000 meters (9,840 ft.) above sea level. The eternal snow and glacier zone lies above the 3,000 meter line.
Eastern Georgia's landscape (referring to the territory east of the Likhi Range) is considerably different from that of the west. Although, much like the Colchis plain in the west, nearly all of the low-lying areas of eastern Georgia including the Mtkvari and Alazani River plains have been deforested for agricultural purposes. In addition, due to the region's relatively drier climate, some of the low-lying plains (especially in Kartli and south-eastern Kakheti) were never covered by forests in the first place. The general landscape of eastern Georgia comprises numerous valleys and gorges that are separated by mountains. In contrast with western Georgia, nearly 85% of the forests of the region are deciduous. Coniferous forests only dominate in the Borjomi Gorge and in the extreme western areas. Out of the deciduous species of trees, beech, oak, and hornbeam dominate. Other deciduous species include several varieties of maple, aspen, ash, and hazelnut. The upper Alazani River Valley contains yew forests. At higher elevations above 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) above sea level (particularly in the Tusheti, Khevsureti, and Khevi regions), pine and birch forests dominate. In general, the forests in eastern Georgia occur between 500–2,000 metres (1,640–6,560 ft) above sea level, with the alpine zone extending from 2,000/2,200–3,000/3,500 metres (roughly about 6,560–11,480 ft). The only remaining large, low-land forests remain in the Alazani Valley of Kakheti. The eternal snow and glacier zone lies above the 3,500 metre (11,480 ft.) line in most areas of eastern Georgia.

Fauna
Due to its high landscape diversity and low latitude Georgia is home to a high number of animal species, e. g. ca. 1000 species of vertebrates (330 birds, 160 fish, 48 reptiles, 11 amphibians). A number of large carnivores live in the forests, e. g. Persian leopard, Brown bear, wolf, and lynx. The species number of invertebrates is considered to be very high but data is distributed across a high number of publications. The spider checklist of Georgia, for example, includes 501 species.

Climate

The climate of Georgia is extremely diverse, considering the nation's small size. There are two main climatic zones, roughly separating Eastern and Western parts of the country. The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range plays an important role in moderating Georgia's climate and protects the nation from the penetration of colder air masses from the north. The Lesser Caucasus Mountains partially protect the region from the influence of dry and hot air masses from the south as well.

Much of western Georgia lies within the northern periphery of the humid subtropical zone with annual precipitation ranging from 1000–4000mm. (39–157 inches). The precipitation tends to be uniformly distributed throughout the year, although the rainfall can be particularly heavy during the Autumn months. The climate of the region varies significantly with elevation and while much of the lowland areas of western Georgia are relatively warm throughout the year, the foothills and mountainous areas (including both the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains) experience cool, wet summers and snowy winters (snow cover often exceeds 2 meters in many regions). Ajaria is the wettest region of the Caucasus, where the Mt. Mtirala rainforest, east of Kobuleti receives around 4500mm (177 inches) of precipitation per year.

Eastern Georgia has a transitional climate from humid subtropical to continental. The region's weather patterns are influenced both by dry, Central Asian/Caspian air masses from the east and humid, Black Sea air masses from the west. The penetration of humid air masses from the Black Sea is often blocked by several mountain ranges (Likhi and Meskheti) that separate the eastern and western parts of the nation. Annual precipitation is considerably less than that of western Georgia and ranges from 400–1600mm (16–63 inches). The wettest periods generally occur during Spring and Autumn while Winter and the Summer months tend to be the driest. Much of eastern Georgia experiences hot summers (especially in the low-lying areas) and relatively cold winters. As in the western parts of the nation, elevation plays an important role in eastern Georgia as well, and climatic conditions above 1500 metres (4920ft) above sea level are considerably cooler (even colder) than those of the low-lying areas. The regions that lie above 2000 meters (6560ft) above sea level frequently experience frost even during the summer months.

Economy

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Archaeological research demonstrates that Georgia has been involved in commerce with many lands and empires since the ancient times, largely due its location on the Black Sea and later on the historical Silk Road. Gold, silver, copper and iron have been mined in the Caucasus Mountains. Wine making is a very old tradition.

Throughout Georgia's modern history agriculture and tourism have been principal economic sectors, due to the country's climate and topography.

The first financial help from the West came in 1995, when the World Bank and International Monetary Fund granted Georgia a credit of USD 206 million and Germany granted DM 50 million.

As of 2001 54% of the population lived below the national poverty line but by 2006 poverty decreased to 34%. In 2005 average monthly income of a household was GEL 347 (about 200 USD).
Since early 2000s visible positive developments have been observed in the economy of Georgia. In 2006 Georgia's real GDP growth rate reached 8.8%, making Georgia one of the fastest growing economies in Eastern Europe.However, the country has high unemployment rate of 12.6% and has fairly low median income compared to other European countries.

2006 estimates place Georgia's GDP (adjusted for purchasing power parity) at US$17.79 billion. Georgia's economy is becoming more dependent on services (now representing 54.8% of GDP), moving away from agricultural sector ( 17.7%). In addition, Russia increased the price of gas for Georgia. This was followed by the spike in the Georgian lari's rate of inflation. The National Bank of Georgia stated that the inflation was mainly triggered by external reasons, including Russia’s economic embargo. The Georgian authorities expected that the current account deficit the embargo would cause in 2007 would be financed by "higher foreign exchange proceeds generated by the large inflow of foreign direct investment" and an increase in tourist revenues. The country has also maintained a solid credit in international market securities.

Georgia is becoming more integrated into the global trading network: its 2006 imports and exports account for 10% and 18% of GDP respectively. Tax collection increased significantly, thereby reducing the government's formerly large budget deficits.

Experts estimate that Georgia has in the past few years significantly reduced corruption, and Transparency International moved Georgia from the 130th to 99th position in the world in its 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index (with number 1 being considered the least corrupt nation). Other major ethnic groups include Azeris, who form 6.5% of the population, Armenians - 5.7%, Russians - 1.5%, Abkhazians, and Ossetians. Numerous smaller groups also live in the country, including Assyrians, Chechens, Chinese, Georgian Jews, Greeks, Kabardins, Kurds, Tatars, Turks and Ukrainians. Notably, Georgia's Jewish community is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world.

Georgia also exhibits significant linguistic diversity. Within the Georgian language family, Georgians speak Georgian (also known as Kartuli), Laz, Mingrelian, and Svan. Additionally, non-Georgian ethnic groups within the country often speak their native languages in addition to Georgian. The official languages of Georgia are Georgian and also Abkhaz within the autonomous region of Abkhazia. 71% of the population speaks Georgian languages (this includes Mingrelian, Svan, and Laz), 9% - Russian, 7% - Armenian, 6% - Azeri and 7% other. Georgia's literacy rate is 100%.

In the early 1990s, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a violent separatist conflicts broke out in the autonomous regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which resulted in ethnic cleansing of Georgians from Abkhazia, where ethnic Georgians previously had constituted the largest single ethnic group (46% of population in 1989). Many Ossetians living in Georgia also left the country, mainly to Russia's North Ossetia. Of the Meskhetian Turks who were forcibly relocated in 1944 only a tiny fraction returned to Georgia as of 2007.

Georgia's net migration rate is -4.54, excluding Georgian nationals who live abroad. Georgia has nonetheless been inhabited by immigrants from all over the world throughout its independence. According to 2006 statistics, Georgia gets most of its immigrants from Turkey and China.

Today most of the population practices Orthodox Christianity of the Georgian Orthodox Church (82.0%). The religious minorities are: Muslim (9.9%); Armenian Apostolic (3.9%); Russian Orthodox Church (2.0%); Roman Catholic (0.8%). 0.8% of those recorded in the 2002 census declared themselves to be adherents of other religions and 0.7% declared no religion at all.

Christianity

Christianity, first preached by the Apostles Simon and Andrew in the first century, became the state religion of Kartli (Iberia) in 327, making Georgia second oldest Christian country after Armenia. The final conversion to Christianity of Georgia in 327 is credited to St. Nino of Cappadocia who was the only daughter of pious and noble parents the Roman general Zabulon, a relative of the great martyr St. George, and Susanna, sister of the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Georgian Orthodox Church, originally being part of the Church of Antioch gained its autocephaly in the 5th century during the reign of Vakhtang Gorgasali and the Bible was also translated in Georgian in the 5th century. Notably, the oldest example of Georgian writing is an asomtavruli inscription in a church in Bethlehem from 430 AD.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, known as the burial place of Christ's mantle, which was brought in Mtskheta after the crucification by a Georgian Jew from Iberia, Elias, is the first Georgian church. Notably Georgia falls under the patronage of Virgin Mary according to Saint Stefan who says that the destiny of the mother of God fell on the Iberian land after the Apostles cast lots to determine in which country God desired each of them to preach the Gospel.

Jacques de Vitry and Sir John Maundeville stated that Georgians are called Georgian because they especially revere and worship St. George and when they go on pilgrimage to the Lord's Sepulchre, they march into the Holy City with banners displayed, without paying tribute to anyone.

Other religions
The religious minorities are: Muslim (9.9%); Armenian Apostolic (3.9%); Russian Orthodox Church (2.0%); Roman Catholic (0.8%). 0.8% of those recorded in the 2002 census declared themselves to be adherents of other religions and 0.7% declared no religion at all. , continuing into the rise of the unified Georgian Kingdom under the single monarchy of the Bagrationi which has reached its golden age and renaissance of classical literature, arts, philosophy, architecture and science in 11th century. The powerful Georgian language with its own unique alphabet, and the Classical Georgian literature of the legendary epic poet Shota Rustaveli was revived in the 19th century after long period of turmoil, laying the foundations of the great literary achievements of romantics and novelists of modern era such as Grigol Orbeliani, Nikoloz Baratashvili, Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Vaza Pshavela, and many others. Georgian culture with its distinctively own unique civilization was also influenced by the Classical Greece, Roman and Byzantine Empire, and later by the Russian Empire which has contributed in the European identity of the Georgian culture.

Georgia is well-known for its rich folklore, unique traditional music, theatre, cinema, arts, etc. Georgians are renowned for their love of music, dance, theatre and cinema which has been demonstrated in the 20th century by greately contributing to the world of arts thanks to the legendary representatives of the Georgian culture such as legendary painters (Niko Pirosmani, Lado Gudiashvili, Elene Akhvlediani, etc), ballet choreographers (George Balanchine, Vakhtang Chabukiani, Nino Ananiashvili) poets (Galaktion Tabidze, Lado Asatiani, Mukhran Machavariani, etc.) and theatre/film directors (Robert Sturua, Tengiz Abuladze, Otar Ioseliani, etc.).

Architecture
Georgian architecture is one of the most distinguished and unique architectures in the world. However, it has been enriched and influenced by many civilizations during the long history of the country. There are several different architectural styles for castles, towers fortifications and churches. The Upper Svaneti fortifications and the castle town of Shatili in Khevsureti are one of the finest examples of medieval Georgian castles.

Georgian ecclesiastic art is one of the most fascinating aspects of Georgian Christian architecture, which combines classical dome style with original basilica style forming what is known as Georgian cross-dome style. Cross-dome style of architecture developed in Georgia during the 9th century and before that, most of the Georgian churches were basilicas. Georgian culture places high emphases on individualism and this is expressed thought the allocation of space inside the churches. Other examples of Georgian ecclesiastic architecture can be found oversees in Bulgaria (Bachkovo Monastery built in 1083 by Georgian military commander Grigorii Bakuriani ), in Greece (Iviron monastery built by Georgians in 10th century) and in Jerusalem (Monastery of the Cross built by Georgians in 9th century).
Other architectural aspects of Georgia include Hausmannized Rustaveli avenue of Tbilisi and the Old Town District.

Art
The art of Georgia varies from prehistoric to ancient Greek, Roman, medieval, ecclesiastic, iconic and modern visual arts. One of the most famous late nineteenth and early twentieth century Georgian artists is Niko Pirosmani, who is one of the most prominent primitivist painters in the world. Pirosmani's works can also been seen as early impressionistic due to the fact that he was an inspiration to Lado Gudiashvili and Elene Akhvlediani who represent more mainstream impressionism of the twentieth century.

Cuisine
Georgian cuisine and wine is highly appreciated worldwide and it has evolved throughout the centuries, adapting traditions from different eras. One of the most unique traditions of dining is Supra, or Georgian table, which is also a way of socialization within friends and extended family members, where Tamada is the head of Supra, who also regulates the highly philosophized toasts, and makes sure that everybody is pleased with the party. Various historical regions of Georgia are known for their dishes: for example, Khinkali (meat dumplings), come from eastern mountainous Georgia and Khachapuri - mainly from Imereti, Mingrelia and Adjara.

In addition to the traditional Georgian dishes the foods of other countries have been brought to Georgia by the immigrants from Russia, Greece, and recently China.



Gallery of Georgia

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Image: DSCN3638.jpg| Mountain landscape
Image: Gremi.jpg| Gremi Church
Image:Ananuridc.jpg| 10 century Ananuri Church
Image: GWS Versuchsweinberge.JPG| Famous Georgian vineyards in Kakheti
Image:Central part of Tbilisi.jpg| Tbilisi
Image:5463456.jpg| Gagra
Image:Building of the City Council.jpg| Sukhumi
Image:724900.jpg| Medieval fortress of Varzia
Image:Bakuriani Winter.jpg| Bakuriani
Image:VittfarneGeorgien 155.jpg| Northern Georgia



References

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Further reading

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External links

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Dictionary of Georgian National Biography

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