Guria

OF GEORGIA’S REGIONS GURIA HAS THE SMALLEST TERRITORY. ITS AREA IS 2036.1 SQ. KM. IT IS SITUATED IN SOUTH-WESTERN PART OF GEORGIA. FROM EAST IT IS BORDERED BY IMERETI, FROM THE WEST — BY THE BLACK SEA 22-KM SEASIDE STRIP, FROM THE SOUTH — BY GURIA-AJARA RANGE, AND FROM THE NORTH – BY THE LOWLAND OF RIVER RIONI. THE REGION INCLUDES MUNICIPALITIES OF OZURGETI, LANCHKHUTI AND CHOKHATAURI. THE NATURE OF THE REGION AND ITS CLIMATE IS DISTINCT THANKS TO THE PROXIMITY OF MOUNTAINS AND SEA. THERE ARE PLENTY OF CITRUS PLANTATIONS AND GROVES IN GURIA AS WELL AS WIDE SPECTRUM OF LOCALLY PRODUCED TEA AND NUTS.
FROM OLD TIMES THIS REGION WAS FAMOUS FOR ITS DIVERSE AND UNIQUE GRAPES VARIETIES. THE REGION IS RICH WITH HISTORICAL PAST, POLYPHONIC SINGING AND TRADITIONS: IN GURIA, OTHER THAN TRADITIONAL GEORGIAN
POLYPHONIC THREE-VOICE SINGING THEY SING IN FOUR VOICES WHERE ONE OF THE VOICES IS KRIMANCHULI. IN VILLAGES SIXLUTE SPIRITUAL INSTRUMENT — SOINARI SURVIVES; WHILE DURING KALANDOBA (CHRISTMAS) THE GURIANS ACCORDING TO OLD TRADITION MAKE CHICHILAKI AND BAKE CHRISTMAS KVEREBI (GURIAN VARIANT OF TRADITIONAL GEORGIAN CHEESE-PIES — KHACHAPURI)… THE BIGGEST WEALTH OF GURIA IS WATER. ALMOST EVERYWHERE ONE CAN COME ACROSS FULL-FLOWING GURIAN RIVERS, CRYSTAL-CLEAR SPRINGS, MURMURING BROOKS, MINERAL HEALING WATERS… MAKING HOLIDAY AND GETTING TREATMENT IN THE REGION IS POSSIBLE ON THE SEASIDE, ON THE HIGHEST SPOT IN THE MOUNTAINS, IN SPA RESORTS RICH WITH MINERAL WATERS. LOVERS OF ACTIVE VACATIONS HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY KAYAKING OR ENGAGE IN FISHING, HUNTING OR RAFTING…

 

SHEMOKMEDI MONASTERY COMPLEX

Middle Age monastery complex in Shemokmedi is located in Guria, on the left bank of river Bzhuzhi, 8 km to the south-west from the town of Ozurgeti, in the hamlet of Shemokmedi. The complex consists of three monument: XVI century bell tower, which was restored in 1831, and two attached cathedrals – XII century Basilica of Deity and a dome church called Zarzma. The latter was constructed by Vakhtang I Gurieli in 1572 to place there Transfiguration Icon bestowed in XVI century for the purpose of its security. Up to nowadays it is the oldest among the extant Georgian icons and is dated back to 886. As the legend goes, the icon bestowed from Zarzma in Akhaltsikhe was attached to the bull and, presumably, it was supposed to be placed exactly where a bull would stop. That is how this Icon appeared to get to Shemokmedi monastery.

Interior and outer jacket of the church of Our Lord is paved with cut stone and has marble flooring. The church is a three-nave construction without a dome. First it should have been a one-nave building with later annexes of two side naves. At the same time the church was dressed in new jacket and decorated with various color stones in staggered rows. The Shemokmedi monastery was considered the richest monastery and had a rich stock of books. The monastery used to be the burial site of Shemokmedi Bishops and the family of Gurieli.

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LAKE PALIASTOMI

Lake Paliastomi is located in Western Georgia, on the coastline of Black sea, in the Kolkheti lowland, in the environs of the town of Poti. By its area (18.2 sq. km) it is the third largest lake in Georgia.

The name of the lake is of Greek origin and its direct meaning is Old coast or Old inflow. The oldest gulf of Black sea which turned into a lake was separated from the sea in historical past by 2-km-wide coast dune belt.

Three rivers flow into the lake, and one – river Kaparchina – flows out. The temperature spread of the lake water is 20 degrees. However, it never freezes. In various seasons of the year the lake is typically either rough or has a drastic drop of water level. It relates to strong winds generated on Black sea where its waters reach the lake via special duct (today via strait). The strait connected with Black sea has the width of 150 meters. Due to sea water inflow into the Lake salinity of the Lake is increased 10-fold.

Intense change in salinity has instantly destroyed fish fauna of fresh water which had its habitat here. Some species also linked with the sea had preserved natural habitat. It is known that at the beginning of the last century there were species of catfish and pike represented here which are fully extinct today. Nowadays there are some tens of fish species in the lake of which only carp and mullet are good for commercial catch.

Lake Paliastomi is the major facility of Kolkheti national park

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RESORT BAKHMARO

A high-mountain health resort of Bakhmaro is located in the hollow of Guria mountains covered by pine and fir trees. Mount Gadrekili,
or Lechkis Seri (2520 m) overlooks it from the East. This peak is called by vacationers ‘Mount of the Rising Sun’. During the rising
sun wonderful scenery opens up from the peak. Until the end of XIX century Bakhmaro was visited only by shepherds. Shepherds were people who spread the resorts unique therapeutic features. At the start shepherds took to Bakhmaro mountains their family members on whom sound climate made positive impact. The first vacationer soon followed shepherds and was quickly cured from widespread disease – tuberculosis. After that in a short spell of time rumors about miraculous climate of the resort extended far and wide. The number of vacationers went up every year. Later on multi-faceted clinical research proved that unique climate of Bakhmaro is the best means of strengthening immunity and reinvigorating oneself, and gives wonderful results in treatment of tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases. The unique character of Bakhmaro climate is caused first and foremost by its location. Resort is open to the West and thanks to that, the gorge is invaded by warm sea winds that ensure formation of soft middle mountain upper belt climate. That
is why air here is always clean and transparent. The effectiveness of the resort is contributed also by the most picturesque
scenery of mountains with its soothing impact. The holiday season in Bakhmaro is short: from the beginning of July until the end of August. Due to tough climate conditions the mountains of Guria by the beginning of September are covered with snow which in wintertime has the height of up to 4-6 meters. The idea of mastering tourist potential of Bakhmaro in winter emerged back in 1977. In the conclusion of research expedition it was pointed out that Bakhmaro’s natural conditions satisfy all demands of winter resort and there was an opportunity of constructing 8-10 ski trails of different purpose that could operate during 4-5 months in full swing.

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