abkhazeti

 

Apkhazeti, (Abkhazia, Apkhazia, Apsny ) covers an area of about 8,600 km² at the western end of Georgia. The Caucasus Mountains to the north and the northeast divide Abkhazia from the Russian Federation . To the east and southeast, Abkhazia is bounded by the Georgian region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti ; and on the south and southwest by the Black Sea.

Apkhazeti is extremely mountainous. The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range runs along the region's northern border, with its spurs – the Gagra, Bziphi, and Kodori ranges – dividing the area into a number of deep, well-watered valleys. The highest peaks of Apkhazeti are in the northeast and east and several exceed 4,000 meters (13,120 feet) above sea level. The landscapes of Apkhazeti range from coastal forests and citrus plantations, to eternal snows and glaciers to the north of the region. Although Apkhazeti's complex topographic setting have spared most of the territory from significant human development, its cultivated fertile lands produce tea , tobacco , wine and fruits , a mainstay of local agricultural sector. Apkhazeti is richly irrigated by small rivers originating in the Caucasus Mountains. Chief of these are: Kodori , Bzyb , Ghalidzga , and Gumista . The Psou River separates the region from Russia, and the Inguri serves as a boundary between Abkhazia and Georgia proper. There are several periglacial and crater lakes in mountainous Abkhazia. Lake Ritsa is the most important of them.

Because of Apkhazeti's proximity to the Black Sea and the shield of the Caucasus Mountains, the region's climate is very mild. The coastal areas of the republic have a subtropical climate, where the average annual temperature in most regions is around 15 degrees Celsius . The climate at higher elevations varies from maritime mountainous to cold and summerless. Apkhazeti receives high amounts of precipitation, but its unique micro-climate (transitional from subtropical to mountain) along most of its coast causes lower levels of humidity. The annual precipitation vacillates from 1,100-1,500 mm (43-59 inches) along the coast to 1,700-3,500 mm (67-138 in.) in the higher mountainous areas. The mountains of Apkhazeti receive significant amounts of snow.

Apkhazeti Admistrative Disctricts:

• Gagra
• Gudauta
• Sokhumi
• Ochamchire
• Tkvarcheli
• Gali