Georgia - Tourism and Travel

The Republic of Georgia is located in southwest Asia, on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. It was formerly a republic of the Soviet Union.

Georgia is located in the Caucasus, a region on the border of Asia and Europe, where the Caucasus Mountains are located.The Caucasus Mountains are fold mountains - mountains that were created when continental plates collided. The Caucus Mountains were formed about 65 million years ago, when Africa collided with Europe. The Taurus Mountains in Turkey were formed at the same time.

Georgia has an area of 26,911 square miles (69,700) square kilometers.

There are mountain ranges in the northern and southern parts of the country,while the Kura and Riona valleys are in the center.

A granite massif is located near the town of Surami.

The climate along the coast is subtropical; elsewhere, there is a mild climate.

Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia.

There are 4,260,000 people in Georgia.

84% are ethnic Georgians. There are also Armenians, Azeris, Russians, Ossetians and Abkhazians.

Ethnic separatism has posed a great challenge to Georgia,and in the early part of the twentieth century, there were conflicts involving Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which have declared themselves independent republics, although Georgia does not acknowledge their independence. Abkhazia and South Ossetia were supported by Russia during these military conflicts.

The official language of Georgia is Georgian. Russian, Armenian, Zeria, Ossetian, Abkahzian and Mingrelian are also spoken.

65% of the people are Georgian Orthodox, There are also Muslims, Russian Orthodox and members of the Armenian Apostolic Church

Many of the people of Georgia work in agriculture. Important crops are citrus fruits, grapes and tea.

Georgia has reserves of oil and manganese ore.

Precision machinery production, oil refining and steel production are important industries.

Georgia has a presidential system of government.

The official currency is the lari, which is made up of 100 tetri.