Region 6: JAVAKHETI
28. Lakes of Javakheti mountain steppe
Coordinates: 41 o10’ N, 43o45’ E
Altitude: 1900– 2100 m. a.s.l.
 Continental, mountain climate. Winters are cold and snowy, summers cool. Annual precipitation below 700 mm (30 mm in January, 60 mm in April, 80 mm in July, 50 mm in October). 40 days with heavy rains per year. Around 100 days with snow cover. Mean temperature: January/– 10, April/ 4, July /10, October/6. Mean maximum temperature (July) /26 o C.
 This is a mountain grassland area in southern Georgia, along the border with Armenia and Turkey. The area harbors five out of eight of the largest lakes in Georgia, with rich waterfowl fauna. It is included in the list of important bird areas. For birdwatchers, the most interesting lakes are Khanchali, Madatapa, Kartsakhi and a smaller lake Burnasheni (Bugdasheni). The area consists of a large volcanic plateau, crossed by ridges of spectacular volcanic cones (Abuli– Samsari and Javakheti mountain ranges). Some villages in the area have a specific architecture of one– story stone houses covered with grass roofs. A visit to the area takes at least three days (if a car from Tbilisi is available).
 The lakes and their surroundings support breeding populations of many bird species. This site gives bird– watchers a great opportunity to enjoy observing velvet scoter, ruddy shelduck, ferruginous duck, and many other duck species, corncrake, marsh and Montague’ s harriers, common crane, Dalmatian and white pelicans, red– necked and black– necked grebes, white stork, squacco heron, great white egret, Eurasian spoonbill, glossy ibis, marsh and terek sandpipers, and many more species of waders, gulls, and terns like great black– headed gulls, gull– billed terns, and white– winged black terns. Hikers climbing up the volcanic mountains of Javakheti will be rewarded with a good chance to see crimson– winged finch and Radde’ s accentor. Villages of the area are perhaps the most important nesting sites of white stork in the Caucasus.
 The area supports many muskrats (a species introduced from North America), foxes and wolves, marbled polecats, which can be watched even near settlements. All lakes have three amphibian species – Asia Minor frog, lake frog (extremely large individuals are sometimes observed), and green toads. At mountain slopes, an endemic Darevski’ s adder can be occasionally found. Slopes of the mountains are covered with largely undisturbed grasslands, rhododendron bush, and volcanic boulders. There is a very high concentration of orchids, such as Dactylorhiza and Orchis, even in the mid– summer.
 Abuli– Samsari mountain range, representing a chain of volcanic cones. Volcanic landscapes, with aggregations of huge boulders, bushes of Caucasian rhododendron. Primitive stone architecture, typical for the treeless uplands of the Middle East.
 June– August
  A number of buses and minibuses leaving Tbilisi for the district center Akhalkalaki depart every day from Didube bus station. Travel by car takes at least 7 hours via Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe, taking into account bad quality of the roads. From Akhalkalaki, travel by a four– wheel drive car is strongly recommended. Alternatively, one can travel to the second district center, Ninotsminda, which lies at the shore of the lake Khanchali. A bus leaving for Ninotsminda through Tsalka departs every day from Tbilisi Didube bus station. Ninotsminda has fewer opportunities for comfortable accommodation than Akhalkalaki but lies closer to the most interesting lakes.
 In Akhalkalaki, there are several small but quite comfortable hotels, with average cost of around 15– 25 USD per person/day. Accommodation in Ninotsminda is possible as well; there is a cheap hotel in the center of the town, however conditions are far from comfortable. It is possible to rent a room in a village house in Ninotsminda. Many restaurants and cafés are open both in Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda.
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