Country Information on Georgia

Terrain Rugged mountain chains, about one third of which is forested, make up a large part of Georgia's terrain. The main ridge of the Greater Caucasus forms the country's northern border. The highest elevation is the 5,048 m Mt. Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek). The southern border is formed by the Lesser Caucasus and the Ararat highlands. The area between these two mountainous regions is considerably flatter, especially along the river valleys and the Black Sea coast. The two largest rivers in the republic are the Kura and the Rioni. Climate The climate varies greatly, given Georgia's size, and can be divided into different zones, ranging from humid subtropical areas to regions featuring frost and glaciers. A subtropical climate prevails in western Georgia, while a more temperate climate with less rain is characteristic of the east. Tbilisi has an average temperature of around 1°C in January, but in summer it enjoys a mean temperature of 25°C. Fauna/Flora In spite of its relatively small size, Georgia is covered with a huge variety of flora, a result of the interaction of the various climates. The mountain ranges surrounding Georgia cause a kind of geographical isolation of the country, producing a high level of endemic variety both in plant and in animal life. Forests constitute 38% of the country's territory, which is approx. 2.7 million hectares. Georgia has about 100 species of animals, which include 330 species of birds, 48 species of reptiles, 11 species of amphibians, and 160 species of fish. History/Politics Ionian Greeks started colonizing the area of present-day Georgia in the 6th century BC. The western region was called Colchis, the eastern one Iberia. Christianity was introduced around the 4th century AD. The Persian and Byzantine empires fought for control over Georgia until the 7th century. Later the Arabs and in the 11th century Seljuk Turks conquered the region. In the early 12th century King David II expelled the Turks and united all of Georgia into one kingdom. In the 13th century this kingdom disintegrated as a result of Mongol invasions. Until the 18th century the Ottoman Empire had control of the land, half a century later a Georgian kingdom was proclaimed. However, from 1783 Russia controlled the foreign policy of the young realm. The kingdom was rather short-lived, and in 1801 the last Georgian king abdicated. Subsequently Georgia was annexed to the Russian Empire. In 1918, after the Russian Revolution, Georgia became an independent state. A short time later, in 1921, the Red Army invaded the country and made Georgia an autonomous Soviet republic within the Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (SFSR). When the Transcaucasian SFSR was dissolved in 1936, Georgia became a Soviet republic. In April 1991, following the end of the Soviet Union, Georgia declared its independence; in December of the same year the USSR officially collapsed. Even earlier, while Soviet president Gorbachev was introducing his policy of glasnost, many Abhkazians and Ossetians had begun agitating for greater levels of autonomy. Friction between the Georgian government and the ethnic enclaves increased. The conflict escalated into a civil war in 1992 and 1993. In the 1995 presidential elections Eduard Shevardnadze was elected. His party, the Citizens' Union of Georgia, which had been founded in 1993, gained a majority of seats in the parliamentary elections held at the same time. In 1996 the European Union and Georgia signed a co-operation agreement. In legislative elections held in 1999 the Citizens' Union of Georgia again won a majority of seats, and Shevardnadze was re-elected president in April 2000. Economy Georgia used to be the richest Soviet republic, as can be inferred from its former per-capita income. The country's major economic sector is agriculture (37%, including forestry), slightly larger than the industrial sector. Black Sea tourism, aided by several spas and seaside resorts, is an important source of revenue. In this area citrus fruits, tea, and grapes are cultivated. Georgia is gaining importance as an industrial region, since it disposes of large quantities of energy, minerals, manganese, iron ore, molybdenum, gold, fuel, coal, and crude oil. Furthermore marble and alabaster are mined. The industrial sector produces iron, steel, cement, automobiles, and textiles. Owing to the civil war, the Russian economic crisis after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and a large budget deficit, economic growth suffered enormous setbacks. Consequently a new currency, the Lari, was introduced in 1995, thereby intending to stabilize the economy and to increase the standard of living. Culture The capital Tbilisi is famous for its historical monuments and gorgeous architecture. Landmarks include the remains of the Zion Cathedral (6th century), the Anchiskhat Basilica (6th -7th century), and the Metekhi church (13th century). From the 6th to the 10th century, Georgian literature (produced primarily in monasteries) was ecclesiastical. Translations of the Bible were the principal works. In the 18th century, the foremost writers were David Guramishvili, author of "The Woes of Kartli", and lyric poet Bessarion Gabashvili. In the 19th century, romanticism was the dominant style, as seen in the writings of Alexander Chavchavadze, Nikoloz Baratashvili, and Grigol Orbeliani.