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Georgia is rich in monuments of nature, the most popular of which for tourist are included in tourist programs: Sataplia and Dmanisi. Sataplia is located in 9 km to the north-west of Kutaisi in a reserved zone, where on a 354 hectare area there are well-preserved natural floristic complex, rich in plantations of Colkhetian box-trees and chestnut. Here there are also limestone caves, footprints of dinosaurs, located on a 300-m height above sea level. In Dmanisi, 60-km to the south of Tbilisi on the territory of a medieval town there were found two skulls of human beings dated 1.7 million years. With this discovery the antiquity of a man's origin was increased two times on the European continent.


g e o r g i a

Finding of the first European in Dmanisi gives evidence that Georgia was located on a crossroads of migration routes and a man from Africa got to Europe exactly via Georgia. After this discovery it is without any doubt that Georgia is a motherland of the first European.
Nature of Georgia is rich and diverse showing perspectives for its utilization with the purpose of rest and recreation. For a wide use of nature it is necessary to be careful towards her. In this connection problem of nature presevation gains in a significant importance. About 20% of Georgian territory are declared as zone subject to protection. In the country at the modern stage an issue is being considered on what kind of forms should be applied relative to these territories.
In Georgia an idea on preservation necessity has been generated already in distant past, creating appropriate legal regulations step-by-step. Since Queen Tamar (12th century) interesting information concerning announcing zones of strict protection of separate territories has been found in royal decrees. In the 19th century first nature reserves were formed, and during Soviet power 15 nature reserves were founded in Georgia.
At present intense works are carried out on establishing national parks in Georgia. The above mentioned nature reserves are included in the list of national parks as well. It is planned to establish seven national parks. One of them Borjomi-Kharagouli has already been created and operated; it is in the process of completion creation of Colkhetian national park in western Georgia.
Borjomi-Kharagouli national park was founded in 1995 opened for visiting since 1999. Park area - 863300 hectares. It has five entrances: Atskuri, Panavi, Nunisi, Borjomi and Marelisi. Three camps for tourists and a centre for Borjomi visitors are built on the territory of the park. Tourists are offered eight tours, the easiest and the shortest of them is 5 km long, the hardest and longest - 42 km. Borjomi-Kharagouli national park is becoming the real centre of ecotourism.

No Name of a reserve Conserved objects height above sea level area in thousand hectares
1 Vashlovani Flora: arid sparse growth of trees. Composition - pistachio-tree, carecass, etc.

Fauna: wild boar, stripy hyena, badger, fox, hare, partridge, giurza.

350-700 4.7
2 Lagodekhi Flora: mountain deciduous forests and alpine meadows.

Fauna: Caucasian goat, chamois, deer, roe deer, wild boar, bear, wolf, lynx, otter, marten, lammergeier, ulan, heath-cock, trout.

500-3500 17.7
3 Babaneuri Flora: dzelkva plantations. 400-800 0.75
4 Batsara Flora: untouched virgin yew-tree forest in beech-wood zone.

Fauna: chamois, roe deer, bear, marten, trout.

700-1800 3.0
5 Mariamjvari Flora: breeding ground for forming Caucasian pine-tree.

Fauna: roe deer, marten, hare.

700-1000 1.0
6 Algeti Flora: Eastern border of fir extension in the South of Georgia.

Fauna: roe deer, bear, fox, hare.

800-1300 6.1
7 Saguramo Flora: Colkhid type relic plant in Eastern Georgia: box-tree, etc.

Fauna: deer, roe deer, marten, forest-cat, hare, pheasant.

600-1300 5.1
8 Borjomi Flora: conifer and deciduous forests, alpine meadows, etc.

Fauna: deer, roe deer, bear, lynx, marten, hare, squirrel, heath-cock, trout.

800-1900 18.1
9 Ajameti Flora: stand of Imeretian oak, gartvisi and dzelkva in Colkheti lowland forests.

Fauna: roe deer, fox, hare, woodcock.

120-200 4.8
10 Sataplia Flora: floristic natural complex (limestone caves, footstep of a dinosaur). plantations of Colkhetian box-trees and chestnut.

Fauna: fox, badger.

200-500 0.3
11 Colkheti Flora: Natural complex of Colkhetian elements. Lake paliastomi. Colkheti marsh.

Fauna: roe deer, wild boar, pheasant. On wintering water-fowl.

0 0.5
12 Kintrishi Flora: Colkhetian relic forests (poti oak-tree, etc.)

Fauna: chamois, roe deer, bear, marten, otter, trout.

500-1500 6.9
13 Myusera Flora: Colkhetian forest with Mediterranean elements, strawberry, treelike heather, etc.

Fauna: roe deer, marten, fox.

0-100 2.5
14 pitsunda Flora: pistundian pine-tree relic forest. Resort, coast.

Fauna: hare, squirrel, pheasant.

0-100 1.6
15 Ritsa Flora: Colkhetian mountain forest, lake Ritsa.

Fauna: chamois, roe deer, squirrel, bear, lynx.

900-1800 16.1
 

 

 

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