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| About
Georgia,
country overview |
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Georgia is located to the
east of the Black Sea and to the south of Great Caucasus Mountain Range.
In the 41-43 latitude and 40-46 longitude. This region is known as the
"South Caucasus" or "Transcaucasia" currently in Western languages. It
shares borders with the Russian federation in the north, Turkey and
Armenia in the south and Azerbaijan in the east. |
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Capital
(and largest city) |
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Tbilisi, population - 1,480,000 |
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Official languages |
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The official language is Georgian, the
only language in the Ibera Caucasian family written in ancient script,
with its own unique alphabet. Russian, Ossetian, Mingrelian, Armenian,
Azeri and Abkhazian are also spoken. |
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Religion |
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Christian majority, mainly Greek
Orthodoxy, other confessional groups include Shiite and Sunni Muslims,
Armenian Gregorian, Catholics, Baptists, Judaists |
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Government |
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Presidential republic |
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Area |
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69.700 km2 |
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Population |
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Georgians - 70%, Armenians - 8%, Azeri -
6%, Russians 5%, Greeks - 2%. |
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Government |
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Republic. Gained independence from the
Soviet Union in 1991. |
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Geography |
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Georgia is a mountainous country bordered
by the Black Sea in the west, which forms a 315km (205 mile long)
coastline. The state is crossed by the ranges of the Greater Caucasus
(highest peaks: Mt. Shkhara, 5068m, Mt. Kazbegi, 5047m (16,554ft)). The
inter mountain depression to the south of the Greater Caucasus
encompasses the Kolkheti lowland, Inner Kartli, Lower Kartli and the
Alazani Plains. Still further to the south the Minor Caucasian ranges
rise to the medium height (Meskheti, Shavsheti and other ranges),
reaching 2850 m. The southernmost area of the country is covered by the
volcanic South Georgian Upland (Mt. Didi Abuli, 3301 m, its highest
peak). The Greater Caucasus and the South Georgian Upland join with the
Likhi Range, which at the same time divides Georgia into two contrasting
climatic zones: Western and Eastern Georgia. Enclosed high valleys, wide
basins, health spas with famous mineral waters, caves and waterfalls
combine in this land of varied landscapes and striking beauty. |
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Climate |
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There are quite a wide range of climates
in Georgia, from the warm, humid, subtropical Bleak Sea coast, via the
colder wet alpine climate of the High Caucasus, to the arid steppes of
the east. The Greater Caucasus and the South Georgian Upland join with
the Likhi Range divides Georgia into two contrasting climatic zones:
Western and Eastern Georgia. At the same time The Greater Caucasus range
moderates local climate by serving as a barrier against cold air from
the north. Temperatures in the mountains range from an average of 5.7 °C.
In high mountains the winter lasts for eight months, with an average
temperature of -15 °C. It gets even colder on the high Javakheti plateau.
On the coast of Adjara, temperatures range from 5.8 °C in January to 23.8
°C in August. In eastern Georgia temperatures range from 0.5 °C in
January to 23 °C in august. Kakheti (East Georgia) - is considerably hot
part of Georgia . In summer temperature varies from + 30 - +40 °C, in
winter -8 - +5 °C. The best suggestions for travelers would from late
spring till early fall tours, in winter snow resorts in Caucasus
Mountain . |
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Currency |
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Georgian National currency is Lari (GEL).
1 Lari = 100 Tetri. All payments are made in Laris on the territory of
Georgia. Among foreign currencies the most wide-spread are USD, EUR.
Cash is the preferred method of payment. |
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Time zone |
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GMT + 4 |
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Main rivers |
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Mtkvari (Kura) - 1515km (351km in
Georgia), Alazani - 407km (390km in Georgia), Rioni (333km). |
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Main lakes |
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Paravani (38 km2, depth - 3.3m, 2073m
above sea-level), Tabatskuri (14 km2, depth - 40m, 2000m above
sea-level), Keli (1,3 km2, depth - 63m, 2900m above sea-level), Ritsa
(1,5 km2, depth - 101m, 880m above sea-level). |
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Public holidays |
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| January, 1 |
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New Year’s Day |
| January, 7 |
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Orthodox Christmas |
| January, 19 |
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Epiphany |
| March, 3 |
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Mother's Day |
| April, 9 |
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Memorial Day |
| May, 5-6 |
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Orthodox Easter |
| May, 26 |
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Independence Day |
| August, 24 |
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Constitution Day |
| August, 28 |
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Mariamoba |
| October, 14 |
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Svetitskhovloba |
| November, 23 |
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Giorgoba - St. George’s Day |
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Calling code |
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+995 |
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