Glaciers of Georgia
Encyclopedia
The glaciers of Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...

are mainly located along the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range
Caucasus Mountains
The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain system in Eurasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region .The Caucasus Mountains includes:* the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and* the Lesser Caucasus Mountains....

, covering a total surface area of 506 km² (approx. 0.7% of the country's territory). A number of smaller glaciers may also be found on the adjacent ranges of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. Most of Georgia's 688 glaciers are either classified as valley or hanging
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...

 glaciers.

Overview

Western Georgia's glacial system is fairly well-developed with numerous glaciers occurring anywhere from the source of the Bzyb River
Bzyb River
Soviet President Nikita Khrushchev once proposed a major dam and hydroelectric power generation facility on the Bzyb River, since his favourite resort was located near the mouth of the river at Pitsunda. However, this proposal was ruled out by his experts who opined that a dam built on the Bzyb...

 to the Mamison Pass
Mamison Pass
Mamison Pass is a high mountainous pass in the central Greater Caucasus crest, on the Georgia-Russia border. It is crossed by the Ossetian Military Road, a highway that links Kutaisi, Georgia, with Alagir, Russian Federation. Its peak is 2,911 m....

. The nation's largest glaciers are found in the Inguri River basin of this region. Eastern Georgia's glaciers generally occur in smaller, isolated groups. In addition, the mountain ranges that are located to the north of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range are more glaciated than the adjacent ranges that branch out from the southern slopes of the Caucasus. The line of glaciation ranges between 2,800-2,900 meters above sea level in western Georgia to 3,600 meters in extreme eastern Georgia, near Lagodekhi
Lagodekhi
Lagodekhi is a small town and district in the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia. There is a border crossing there leading to Azerbaijan's Balakan Province.Lagodekhi Nature Reserve, established in 1911, is situated in this area.-External links:***...

. The contrast is mainly due to differences in climate that are caused by a general west-east reduction in precipitation, which is responsible for a more continental climate in parts of eastern Georgia.

See also

  • Abano Glacier
    Abano Glacier
    Abano Glacier is located on the southeastern slope of Mt. Kazbek in the Kazbegi District of Georgia. The length of the glacier is and its surface area is . The maximum width of the Abano Glacier is .- References :...

  • Adishi Glacier
    Adishi Glacier
    Adishi Glacier is a valley glacier located in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in the Svaneti Region of Georgia. The glacier lies on the southern slopes of the Caucasus. The length of the Adishi Glacier is and its surface area is . The tongue of the glacier descends down...

  • Devdaraki
    Devdaraki
    Devdaraki is a valley glacier located on the northeastern slope of Mt. Kazbek. The length of the glacier is and its surface area is . The tongue of the Devdaraki Glacier descends to above sea level. Devdaraki is known for its intense surging properties that have caused significant destruction...

  • Dolra
    Dolra
    Dolra is a valley glacier located on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in the Svaneti Region of Georgia. The length of the glacier is and its surface area is . The tongue of the Dolra Glacier descends down to above sea level. The glacier is the source of the river...

  • Gergeti
    Gergeti
    Gergeti is a glacier located on the southeastern slope of Mt. Kazbek in the Kazbegi District of Georgia. The length of the Gergeti glacier is and its surface area is . The tongue of Gergeti descends to above sea level. Most of the glacier is located within an old and eroded volcanic caldera,...

  • Lekhziri Glacier
    Lekhziri Glacier
    Lekhziri Glacier is a valley glacier located on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in the Svaneti Region of Georgia. The length of the glacier is and its surface area is . The tongue of the glacier descends down to above sea level. Lekhziri consists of three separate...

  • Tsaneri Glacier
    Tsaneri Glacier
    Tsaneri is a valley glacier located on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in the Svaneti Region of Georgia. The glacier lies at and above the source the river Mulkhra. The length of the Tsaneri Glacier is and its surface area is . Tsaneri consists of two branches that...

  • Tviberi Glacier
    Tviberi Glacier
    Tviberi is a glacier located in the Svaneti Region of Georgia on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. The length of the Tviberi Glacier is and its surface area is . The tongue of the glacier descends to above sea level. Tviberi represents a polisynthetic type of a valley...

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