The rivers of Georgia , a country in the Caucasus, are part of either the Black Sea or Caspian Sea Drainage basins. The most spectacular rivers include the Alazani (longest river flowing through Georgia and Azerbaijan), Aragvi, Enguri (second longest river within Georgia), Kura (Mtkvari), and Rioni (longest river in Georgia) rivers. [1]
Georgia has about 25,000 rivers, many of which power small hydroelectric stations. Drainage is into the Black Sea to the west and through Azerbaijan to the Caspian Sea to the east. The largest river is the Kura River, which flows 1,364 km from northeast Turkey across the plains of eastern Georgia, through the capital, Tbilisi, and into the Caspian Sea. The Rioni River, the largest river in western Georgia, rises in the Greater Caucasus and empties into the Black Sea at the port of Poti. Soviet engineers turned the river lowlands along the Black Sea coast into prime subtropical agricultural land, embanked and straightened many stretches of river, and built an extensive system of canals. Deep mountain gorges form topographical belts within the Greater Caucasus. [2]
The following table lists significant rivers that flow through Georgia. It shows the total length of the river, the length of the river within Georgia and other countries the river flows through, the size of the river's drainage basin, and the course of the river to the Caspian Sea or Black Sea.
River | Total length | Length within Georgia (Other countries) | Basin size, 1,000 | Course |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aapsta [3] | 35 km (22 mi) | 35 km (22 mi) (de facto Abkhazia) | .243 km2 (0.094 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Abasha | 66 km (41 mi) | 66 km (41 mi) | .370 km2 (0.143 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Acharistsqali | 90 km (56 mi) | 90 km (56 mi) | 1.5 km2 (0.58 sq mi) | Black Sea, Chorokhi→ |
Alazani | 409 km (254 mi) | 391 km (243 mi) (Azerbaijan) | 22.0 km2 (8.5 sq mi) | Caspian Sea |
Algeti | 108 km (67 mi) | 108 km (67 mi) | .763 km2 (0.295 sq mi) | Caspian Sea |
Amtkeli | 38 km (24 mi) | 38 km (24 mi) | .398 km2 (0.154 sq mi) | Black Sea, Kodori→ |
Andi Koysu | 144 km (89 mi) | (Russia) | 4.81 km2 (1.86 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Sulak→ |
Aragvi | 110 km (68 mi) | 110 km (68 mi) | 2.7 km2 (1.0 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Kura→ |
Argun | 148 km (92 mi) | (Russia) | 3.39 km2 (1.31 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Sunzha→ Terek→ |
Assa | 133 km (83 mi) | (Russia) | 2.06 km2 (0.80 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Sunzha→ Terek→ |
Bakhvistsqali | 42 km (26 mi) | 42 km (26 mi) | .156 km2 (0.060 sq mi) | Black Sea, Supsa→ |
Bzyb (Bzipi) [3] | 110 km (68 mi) | 110 km (68 mi) | 1.5 km2 (0.58 sq mi) | Black sea |
Chanistsqali | 63 km (39 mi) | 63 km (39 mi) | .315 km2 (0.122 sq mi) | Black Sea, Khobi→ |
Choloki | 29.5 km (18.3 mi) | 29.5 km (18.3 mi) | .159 km2 (0.061 sq mi) | Black Sea, Natenbi→ |
Çoruh (Chorokhi) | 438 km (272 mi) | 26 km (16 mi) (Turkey) | 22.1 km2 (8.5 sq mi) [4] | Black sea |
Debed | 176 km (109 mi) | (Armenia) | 4.08 km2 (1.58 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Khrami→ Kura→ |
Dzirula | 83 km (52 mi) | 83 km (52 mi) | 1.27 km2 (0.49 sq mi) | Black Sea, Qvirila→ Rioni→ |
Enguri | 206 km (128 mi) | 206 km (128 mi) | 4.1 km2 (1.6 sq mi) | Black sea |
Ghalidzga [3] | 53 km (33 mi) | 53 km (33 mi) (de facto Abkhazia) | .483 km2 (0.186 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Great Liakhvi | 115 km (71 mi) | 115 km (71 mi) | 2.311 km2 (0.892 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Kura→ |
Gumista River [3] | 12 km (7.5 mi) | 12 km (7.5 mi) (de facto Abkhazia) | .576 km2 (0.222 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Iori | 320 km (200 mi) | 183 km (114 mi) (Azerbaijan) | 4.7 km2 (1.8 sq mi) | Caspian Sea |
Kelasuri [3] | 42 km (26 mi) | 42 km (26 mi) (de facto Abkhazia) | .22 km2 (0.085 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Khanistsqali | 57 km (35 mi) | 57 km (35 mi) | .914 km2 (0.353 sq mi) | Black Sea, Rioni→ |
Khipsta | 33 km (21 mi) | 33 km (21 mi) | 0 km2 (0 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Khobi | 150 km (93 mi) | 150 km (93 mi) | 1.34 km2 (0.52 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Khrami | 220 km (140 mi) | 187 km (116 mi) (Azerbaijan) | 8.3 km2 (3.2 sq mi) | Caspian Sea |
Kintrishi [5] | 45 km (28 mi) | 45 km (28 mi) | .291 km2 (0.112 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Kodori [3] | 110 km (68 mi) | 110 km (68 mi) | 2.0 km2 (0.77 sq mi) | Black sea |
Korolistskali | 29.5 km (18.3 mi) | 29.5 km (18.3 mi) | .159 km2 (0.061 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Ksani | 84 km (52 mi) | 84 km (52 mi) | .885 km2 (0.342 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Kura→ |
Kura (Mtkvari) | 1,515 km (941 mi) | 351 km (218 mi) (Turkey, Azerbaijan) | 21.1 km2 (8.1 sq mi) | Caspian Sea |
Kvabliani | 41 km (25 mi) | 41 km (25 mi) | .9 km2 (0.35 sq mi) | Caspian Sea |
Little Liakhvi | 63 km (39 mi) | 63 km (39 mi) | .513 km2 (0.198 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Great Liakhvi→ Kura→ |
Lopota | 33 km (21 mi) | 33 km (21 mi) | .263 km2 (0.102 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Alazani→ Kura→ |
Machakhelistsqali | 37 km (23 mi) | (Turkey) | 369 km2 (142 sq mi) | Black Sea, Çoruh→ |
Mashavera | 66 km (41 mi) | 66 km (41 mi) | 1.39 km2 (0.54 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Khrami→ Kura→ |
Mokvi | 47 km (29 mi) | 47 km (29 mi) | .336 km2 (0.130 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Mulkhra | 27 km (17 mi) | 27 km (17 mi) | .435 km2 (0.168 sq mi) | Black Sea, Enguri→ |
Natanebi | 60 km (37 mi) | 60 km (37 mi) | .657 km2 (0.254 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Ochkhamuri | 21.4 km (13.3 mi) | 21.4 km (13.3 mi) | .0652 km2 (0.0252 sq mi) | Black Sea, Choloki→ Natanebi→ |
Paravani | 74 km (46 mi) | 74 km (46 mi) | 2.35 km2 (0.91 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Kura→ |
Pkhista [3] | 13 km (8.1 mi) | 13 km (8.1 mi) (de facto Abkhazia) | Black Sea, Pkhista→ Psou→ | |
Psou [3] | 57 km (35 mi) | 57 km (35 mi) (de facto Abkhazia, along Russian Border) | .420 km2 (0.162 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Qvirila (Kvrilia) | 152 km (94 mi) | 152 km (94 mi) | 3.6 km2 (1.4 sq mi) | Black Sea, Rioni River→ |
Rioni | 333 km (207 mi) | 333 km (207 mi) | 13.4 km2 (5.2 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Supsa | 117 km (73 mi) | 117 km (73 mi) | 1.1 km2 (0.42 sq mi) | Black Sea |
Suramula | 42 km (26 mi) | 42 km (26 mi) | .719 km2 (0.278 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Ptsa→ Kura→ |
Tedzami | 51 km (32 mi) | 51 km (32 mi) | .404 km2 (0.156 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Kura→ |
Tekhuri | 101 km (63 mi) | 101 km (63 mi) | 1.04 km2 (0.40 sq mi) | Black Sea, Rioni→ |
Terek (Tergi) | 623 km (387 mi) | (Russia) | 43.2 km2 (16.7 sq mi) | Caspian Sea |
Tskhenistsqali | 184 km (114 mi) | 184 km (114 mi) | 2.1 km2 (0.81 sq mi) | Black Sea, Rioni River→ |
Vere | 45 km (28 mi) | 45 km (28 mi) | .194 km2 (0.075 sq mi) | Caspian Sea, Kura→ |
Azerbaijan is a country in the Caucasus region, situated at the juncture of Eastern Europe and West Asia. Three physical features dominate Azerbaijan: the Caspian Sea, whose shoreline forms a natural boundary to the east; the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north; and the extensive flatlands at the country's center. About the size of Portugal or the US state of Maine, Azerbaijan has a total land area of approximately 86,600 km2, less than 1% of the land area of the former Soviet Union. Of the three Transcaucasian states, Azerbaijan has the greatest land area. Special administrative subdivisions are the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by a strip of Armenian territory, and the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, entirely within Azerbaijan. The status of Nagorno-Karabakh is disputed by Armenia, but is internationally recognized as territory of Azerbaijan.
Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region on the coast of the Black Sea. Sometimes considered a transcontinental country, it is located at the intersection of Eastern Europe and West Asia, and is today generally regarded as part of Europe. It is bordered to the north and northeast by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan.
The Kura is an east-flowing river south of the Greater Caucasus Mountains which drains the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus east into the Caspian Sea. It also drains the north side of the Lesser Caucasus, while its main tributary, the Aras, drains the south side of those mountains. Starting in northeastern Turkey, the Kura flows through Turkey to Georgia, then to Azerbaijan, where it receives the Aras as a right tributary, and enters the Caspian Sea at Neftçala. The total length of the river is 1,515 kilometres (941 mi).
The Rioni is the main river of western Georgia. It originates in the Caucasus Mountains, in the region of Racha and flows west to the Black Sea, entering it north of the city of Poti. The city of Kutaisi, once the ancient city of Colchis, lies on its banks. It drains the western Transcaucasus into the Black Sea while the river Kura drains the eastern Transcaucasus into the Caspian Sea.
Salyan District is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. Located in the east of the country, it belongs to the Shirvan-Salyan Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Bilasuvar, Sabirabad, Hajigabul, Baku, Neftchala, and the city of Shirvan. Its capital and largest city is Salyan. As of 2020, the district had a population of 139,900.
Likhi Range or Surami Range is a mountain range in Georgia, a part of the Caucasus Mountains. It connects the Greater Caucasus and Lesser Caucasus ranges and belongs to the Dzirulula denudative Plateau. It is watershed of the Black and Caspian seas basins and divides the country climatically and geomorphologically.
The Alazani is a river that flows through the Caucasus. It is the main tributary of the Kura in eastern Georgia, and flows for 351 kilometres (218 mi). Part of its path forms the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan, before it meets the Kura at the Mingəçevir Reservoir. The river is likely the same as that referred to by classical authors Strabo and Pliny as "Alazonius" or "Alazon", and may also be the Abas River mentioned by Plutarch and Dio Cassius (37.3) as the location of the Battle of the Abas.
The Aragvi and its basin are in Georgia on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains. The river is 112 km (70 mi) long, and its basin covers an area of 2,740 km2 (1,060 sq mi). The ground strata are mostly sandstone, slate, and limestone. The Zhinvali Dam and its 130 MW hydro-electric power station generate much of Georgia's power, and its construction in 1986 formed the Zhinvali Reservoir, upon whose north-western shores rises Ananuri castle with its 17th-century Church of the Assumption.
The Enguri is a river in western Georgia. It is 213 km (132 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 4,060 km2 (1,570 sq mi). It originates near Ushguli in northeastern Svaneti and plays an important role providing hydroelectric power to the area.
Fauna of Azerbaijan or animal kingdom of Azerbaijan refers to the diversity of various types of animals, which inhabit and populate a defined ground or water area in Azerbaijan.
The water bodies of Azerbaijan were formed over a long geological timeframe and changed significantly throughout that period. This is particularly evidenced by remnants of ancient rivers found throughout the country. The country's water systems are continually changing under the influence of natural forces and human-introduced industrial activities. Artificial rivers (canals) and ponds are a part of Azerbaijan's water systems.
The Iori is a river in the South Caucasus that originates in the Greater Caucasus Mountains in eastern Georgia and flows south into Azerbaijan, where it is also known as Gabirry (Qabirry). The river eventually flows into the Mingachevir reservoir, which is drained by the Kura. It is 320 km (200 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 4,650 km2 (1,800 sq mi). It starts in the mountains northeast of Tianeti, flows through that town, swings east and flows through the lowlands parallel to and between the Alazani (north) and the Kura (south).
Glaciers in Georgia are mainly located along the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range.
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake and sometimes referred to as a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia: east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central Asia, south of the fertile plains of Southern Russia in Eastern Europe, and north of the mountainous Iranian Plateau. It covers a surface area of 371,000 km2 (143,000 sq mi), an area approximately equal to that of Japan, with a volume of 78,200 km3 (19,000 cu mi). It has a salinity of approximately 1.2%, about a third of the salinity of average seawater. It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast.
The Georgian S5 route, also known as Tbilisi-Bakurtsikhe-Lagodekhi or Kakheti Highway, is a "road of international importance" within the Georgian road network and runs from Tbilisi via Sagarejo and Bakurtsikhe to the border with Azerbaijan near Lagodekhi over a distance of 160 kilometres (99 mi). After crossing the Georgian-Azerbaijan border the highway continues as M5 to Zagatala and Yevlakh. The S5 highway is one of the two Georgian S-highways that is not part of the European or Asian international highway routes. Within the Georgian S-network it connects with the S9 Tbilisi Bypass.
The Mulkhra or Mulkhura is a river in Mestia Municipality, Georgia, right tributary of the Enguri. It is located in the region Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, in the northwestern part of the country, 230 km (140 mi) northwest of the capital Tbilisi. Length 27 km (17 mi), basin area 435 km2 (168 sq mi). It originates on the southern slope of the Svaneti Caucasus main ridge, on the Tviberi Glacier and joins the Enguri River near the village Kvanchianari. Mulkhura feeds on glaciers, snow, rain and groundwater. Floods are known from April to October, and water shortages - from October to April, from late November to late March - on the ice and in Toshi. The average annual flow at the confluence is 22.5 m3/s (790 cu ft/s).
The Main Caucasian Range is a mountain range in the Russian Federation, Georgia and Azerbaijan. It is the dividing range of the Greater Caucasus.
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