Kakheti Region


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Kakheti is Georgias one of the most important and diverse regions. Snowy Caucasus Mountains, beautiful plains and fields are laid side by side. Natural conditions have largely contributed to the advance of traditional fields of economy.

The most distinguished fields are winegrowing and winemaking - as Kakheti is considered a homeland of wine.

Besides, other spheres of economy are also developed: in lowland - mainly corn cultures, while in highland - cattle-breeding. In addition, we see casual development of apiculture and silkworm breeding. The region is rich with treasures of the soil - copper, lead, zinc, white marble. Kakheti is also wealthy with high esthetic landscapes; the region is also distinguished for its original architecture, interesting folklore and distinctive ethnography.

Kakheti region is situated in eastern part of Georgia. The region includes Alazani River basin and Iori Rivers middle and lower flows. Kakheti is bordered by the Russian Federation (Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan) to the north, Azerbaijan to the east and south and Georgias regions - Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Kvemo (lower) Kartli, to the west. The northern border lies across the mountain-range of the Greater Caucasus; between the range there are two Gorges of Arghuni and Andis-Koisu Rivers and the Kaidori Pass. Eastern frontier goes along the Iori River, while southern border has not a sharp physical-geographic point and partially follows medium and low-mountain range.

There are following natural landscapes on the territory of Kakheti: Kakhetis plain wood landscapes are represented in Shida Kakheti, in particular, at Alazani Valley and adjoining hills, at altitude 200-500m above sea level; it is characterized with plain relief. Vineyards occupy a vast area. In Alazani Grove we see some tugay forests, while climate is humid subtropical.

The Iori plains landscapes are in Gare (outer) Kakheti, at 200-1.000 meters height. Flora is miscellaneous. There have been arid light woods in historic past, which are now kept in Vashlovani Nature Reserve. Steppe plants dominate there, called by locals a plain. We see brown, black-earth, grey-brown soils. Climate is transitional from warm temperate to subtropical.

Half-desert landscapes are observable at Eldari plain. Subtropical climate causes formation of half-desert and desert type plants at grey-brown soils. Climate is subtropical dry.

Caucasian medium range landscapes are spread in the vicinity of Pirikita Tusheti and the Alazani River, at altitude 1.800-2.000 meters. The landscape is characterized with the best hydrothermal conditions for increase and accumulation of phitomass. Width of the phitomass, high plants (some of the trees reach 50m) and evergreen subforest help establish a specific microclimate. The climate is cold temperate.

Lower mountain landscape of Transcaucasia is represented with a narrow stripe, while oak-wood is dominant at brown soil of the mountain forest. The specific feature of it is a sharp difference of soil-plant in northern and southern slopes: dryness-lover oak and hornbeam woods inhabit southern exposition slopes, while hornbeam and beech forests are spread at damp northern soils. The climate is humid and warm temperate.

Transcaucasias medium range mountain landscapes start at altitude 700-800 meters above sea level at Kakhetis Caucasus slopes. The key feature of these landscapes is erosive-denudational relief. Beech woods are dominantly spread there, mainly on damp soils. The climate is humid and warm temperate.

Caucasus high mountain subalpine and alpine landscapes are featured with denudational and paleoglacial relief. There is a meadow plant life dominant in the zone, divided into subalpine and alpine fields. Climate is cold, having a short, cool summer.

There are two main rivers along with their tributaries flowing across the Kakheti region - Alazani and Iori. Also, one of the rivers of Sulak system - Andis-Koisu - enters the Kakheti territory. The Alazani is Georgias longest river, originating from eastern slope of Big Borbalo Summit (altitude 2.750m above the sea level). The Kakheti Rivers are typical mountain rivers - swift and water-abundant.

In Kakheti, we meet tectonic lakes (Kajiri Lake, Krasnogorsky i.e. Malkhazovsky Lake, Jandari Lake and others), also glacier lakes (at alpine zone of Lagodekhi Reserve), landslide lake (at slopes of Gombori Range) and river subtype relict lakes (at Alazani lower zone).