Geography of Georgia (country)
Continent | Europe and Asia |
---|---|
Region | Caucasus |
Coordinates | 42°00′N 43°30′E / 42.000°N 43.500°E |
Area | Ranked 119 |
• Total | 69,700 km2 (26,900 sq mi) |
• Land | 100% |
• Water | 0% |
Coastline | 310 km (190 mi) |
Borders | 1,814 km (1,127 mi)
|
Highest point | soil pollution from toxic chemicals |
Exclusive economic zone | 21,946 km2 (8,473 sq mi) |
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,[2] and is today generally regarded as part of Europe.[3][4][5][6] It is bordered to the north and northeast by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan.[7]
Location
Georgia is largely surrounded by the
Notwithstanding variations in geographic placement, Georgia's proximity to the bulk of Europe, combined with various historical, cultural and political forces, has led increasingly to its inclusion in Europe. The country has joined European organizations, such as the Council of Europe and Eurocontrol, and has been deemed eligible to apply for membership of the European Union if it so wishes in the future.[11]
Topography
Despite its small area, Georgia has one of the most varied topographies of the former Soviet republics.
Georgia has about 25,000 rivers, many of which power small
Coastline
The
Climate
Georgia's climate is affected by temperate humid influences from the west and continental influences from the east.[12] The Greater Caucasus range moderates local climate by serving as a barrier against cold air from the north.[12] Warm, moist air from the Black Sea moves easily into the coastal lowlands from the west.[12] Climatic zones are determined by distance from the Black Sea and by altitude.[12] Along the Black Sea coast, from Abkhazia to the Turkish border, and in the region known as the Colchis Lowland inland from the coast, the dominant subtropical climate features high humidity and heavy precipitation (1,000 to 2,000 mm or 39.4 to 78.7 in per year; the Black Sea port of Batumi receives 2,500 mm or 98.4 in per year).[12] Several varieties of palm trees and citrus grow in these regions, where the midwinter average temperature is 5 °C (41 °F) and the midsummer average is 22 °C (71.6 °F).[12]
The plains of eastern Georgia are shielded from the influence of the Black Sea by mountains that provide a more
At higher elevations, precipitation is sometimes twice as heavy as in the eastern plains.[12] In the west, the climate is subtropical to about 650 m (2,133 ft); above that altitude (and to the north and east) is a band of moist and moderately warm weather, then a band of cool and wet conditions.[12] Alpine conditions begin at about 2,100 m (6,890 ft), and above 3,600 m (11,811 ft) snow and ice are present year-round.[12]
Climate data for Tbilisi (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1881–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 19.5 (67.1) |
22.4 (72.3) |
28.9 (84.0) |
34.4 (93.9) |
35.1 (95.2) |
40.2 (104.4) |
42.0 (107.6) |
40.4 (104.7) |
37.9 (100.2) |
33.3 (91.9) |
27.2 (81.0) |
22.8 (73.0) |
42.0 (107.6) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.6 (43.9) |
7.7 (45.9) |
12.6 (54.7) |
18.9 (66.0) |
23.1 (73.6) |
28.1 (82.6) |
31.2 (88.2) |
30.9 (87.6) |
26.4 (79.5) |
19.8 (67.6) |
12.8 (55.0) |
8.4 (47.1) |
18.9 (66.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) |
3.1 (37.6) |
7.2 (45.0) |
12.7 (54.9) |
17.2 (63.0) |
21.7 (71.1) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.7 (76.5) |
20.2 (68.4) |
14.2 (57.6) |
7.9 (46.2) |
3.7 (38.7) |
13.3 (55.9) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.8 (30.6) |
0.0 (32.0) |
3.2 (37.8) |
8.4 (47.1) |
12.4 (54.3) |
16.5 (61.7) |
19.8 (67.6) |
19.5 (67.1) |
15.4 (59.7) |
10.4 (50.7) |
4.9 (40.8) |
1.3 (34.3) |
9.3 (48.7) |
Record low °C (°F) | −24.4 (−11.9) |
−14.8 (5.4) |
−12.8 (9.0) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
1.0 (33.8) |
6.3 (43.3) |
9.3 (48.7) |
8.9 (48.0) |
0.8 (33.4) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
−20.5 (−4.9) |
−24.4 (−11.9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 21 (0.8) |
23 (0.9) |
29 (1.1) |
51 (2.0) |
92 (3.6) |
85 (3.3) |
49 (1.9) |
37 (1.5) |
27 (1.1) |
41 (1.6) |
29 (1.1) |
23 (0.9) |
507 (20.0) |
Average rainy days | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 100 |
Average snowy days | 6 | 8 | 3 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 1 | 4 | 22 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
74 | 72 | 68 | 66 | 67 | 64 | 61 | 62 | 66 | 73 | 76 | 76 | 69 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 99 | 102 | 142 | 171 | 213 | 249 | 256 | 248 | 206 | 164 | 103 | 93 | 2,046 |
Source 1: Pogoda.ru.net[17] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: NOAA (Sunshine hours 1961–1990)[18] |
Climate data for Mta-Sabueti (1991-2020, extremes 1981-2020) 42°02′N 43°28′E / 42.033°N 43.467°E | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 13.3 (55.9) |
16.4 (61.5) |
19.4 (66.9) |
27.8 (82.0) |
26.5 (79.7) |
30.0 (86.0) |
31.1 (88.0) |
34.4 (93.9) |
31.4 (88.5) |
26.1 (79.0) |
23.6 (74.5) |
15.9 (60.6) |
34.4 (93.9) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.3 (32.5) |
1.0 (33.8) |
5.1 (41.2) |
11.2 (52.2) |
16.0 (60.8) |
19.5 (67.1) |
22.1 (71.8) |
23.1 (73.6) |
18.8 (65.8) |
13.4 (56.1) |
6.7 (44.1) |
2.0 (35.6) |
11.6 (52.9) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.5 (27.5) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
0.9 (33.6) |
5.9 (42.6) |
10.8 (51.4) |
14.4 (57.9) |
17.0 (62.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
13.7 (56.7) |
8.9 (48.0) |
3.2 (37.8) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
7.2 (45.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.7 (23.5) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
2.3 (36.1) |
7.1 (44.8) |
10.7 (51.3) |
13.5 (56.3) |
13.9 (57.0) |
10.2 (50.4) |
5.9 (42.6) |
0.7 (33.3) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
4.2 (39.5) |
Record low °C (°F) | −18.3 (−0.9) |
−18.2 (−0.8) |
−14.6 (5.7) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
0.1 (32.2) |
3.1 (37.6) |
5.0 (41.0) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
−8.6 (16.5) |
−13.4 (7.9) |
−18.3 (−0.9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 150.1 (5.91) |
124.8 (4.91) |
118.6 (4.67) |
78.6 (3.09) |
94.2 (3.71) |
79.6 (3.13) |
54.3 (2.14) |
54.1 (2.13) |
69.3 (2.73) |
89.4 (3.52) |
122.8 (4.83) |
128.1 (5.04) |
1,163.9 (45.81) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 14.2 | 13.8 | 14.9 | 12.2 | 13.4 | 12.4 | 10.3 | 9.2 | 9.5 | 10.7 | 11.3 | 13.7 | 145.6 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
88.7 | 88.7 | 86.6 | 82.3 | 84.5 | 86.6 | 86.2 | 83.7 | 85.8 | 87.9 | 87 | 88.2 | 86.4 |
Source: |
Environmental issues
Beginning in the 1980s, Black Sea pollution has greatly harmed Georgia's tourist industry.[12] Inadequate sewage treatment is the main cause of that condition.[12] In Batumi, for example, only 18 percent of wastewater was treated before release into the sea as of the early 1990s.[12] As of the early 1990s, an estimated 70 percent of surface water contained health-endangering bacteria to which Georgia's high rate of intestinal disease was attributed.[12]
The war in Abkhazia did substantial damage to the ecological habitats unique to that region.
Georgia participates in a number of international environmental agreements. It is a party to:
Extreme points
- Northernmost point: (de jure): Abkhazia
- Northernmost point (de facto): Mestia Municipality, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
- Southernmost point: Dedoplistsqaro Municipality, Kakheti
- Westernmost point (de jure): Abkhazia
- Westernmost point (de facto): Adjara
- Easternmost point: Dedoplistsqaro Municipality, Kakheti (border with Azerbaijan)
See also
- Glaciers of Georgia
- List of earthquakes in Georgia (country)
References
- ^ Geography of Georgia - 9th grade book; G. Chanturia, D. Kereselidze; p. 43
- ^ "Caucasus - region and mountains, Eurasia". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 26 November 2018. Quote: “One widely accepted scheme draws the dividing line along the crest of the Greater Caucasus range, putting the portion of the region north of the line in Europe...another scheme identifies the Aras River and the Turkish border as the line of continental demarcation, thereby locating...Georgia in Europe.”
- ^ International Geographic Encyclopaedia and Atlas. Springer: p. 273
- ^ Encyclopedic World Atlas, George Philip & Son, Oxford University Press: 2002, p.104
- ^ "Georgia - 46 States, one Europe". Council of Europe. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
- ^ "Europe - Georgia". World Health Organization. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
- ISBN 978-3-515-12057-9
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica, Asia:"The land boundary between Asia and Europe is a historical and cultural construct that has been defined variously" June 2021
- ^ Histories 4.38. C.f. James Rennell, The geographical system of Herodotus examined and explained, Volume 1, Rivington 1830, p. 244
- Encyclopedia Britannica”, Caucasus, June 2021: “another scheme identifies the Aras River and the Turkish border as the line of continental demarcation, thereby locating Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in Europe.”
- ^ European Parliament, European Parliament Resolution 2014/2717(RSP), 17 July 2014: "...pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine – like any other European state – have a European perspective and may apply to become members of the Union…"
- ^ OCLC 31709972.
- ^ Economic Commission for Europe. "Environmental Performance Reviews: Georgia", United Nations: 2016, p. 105
- ^ "Georgia". Encyclopedia of the Nations. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
The country has a coastline of 315 kilometers (196 miles).
- ^ goBatumi.com. "Geography". Website of the Department of Tourism and Resorts of Ajara Autonomous Republic. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
The Ajara coastline is 57 km long.
- ^ Aleksey Danko (November 2008). "The Class Roots and Sources of the Aggressive Actions of Georgia Against South Ossetia and Abkhazia and the Aggravation of the Situation in the Caucasus". Proletarskaya Gazeta #30. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
Moreover, the Abkhazian coast stretches 200 kilometres, which has the potential to significantly increase the influence of either Russia or Georgia on the Black sea, including their military presence.
- ^ Погода и Климат (in Russian). Pogodaiklimat.ru. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "Tbilisi/Novoalexeye Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- NOAA. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- NOAA. p. 6. Retrieved 17 March 2024.