Region 2: GREATER CAUCASUS
12. Mountain region of Svaneti
Coordinates: 43 o02’ N, 42o45’ E
Altitude: from ca. 1,400 to 5,068 m. a.s.l.
 Alpine– like, cool, humid. Winters are snowy. Annual precipitation 1,600– 1,800 mm (120 mm in January, 160 mm in April, 180 mm in July, 160 mm in October). Over 50 days with heavy rains per year. Ca. 180 days with snow cover. Mean temperature: January/– 3, April/3, July/14, October/5. Mean maximum temperature (July)/28 o C.
 This site is one of the most amazing highland regions of Georgia. Svans are an indigenous subethnic group of Georgians, with many ancient traditions and very specific countryside architecture. The region is famous for its towers, holy groves, glaciers, and mountain climbers. It lies in the upper part of the river Enguri basin. The area combines subalpine forests and meadows, rocks and alpine tundra. This is a perfect site for watching wildlife. Travel to Svaneti will take at least one week, since the region is far from the central part of Georgia and relatively difficult to reach.
 In the forested deep river valleys, a common set of forest bird species can be watched – owls, six species of woodpeckers, goshawk, peregrine falcon, common crossbill, wood– pigeon, stock dove, white– throated dipper, various warblers and other passerine birds. In subalpine and alpine areas, an important attraction is a community of large raptors: golden eagle, griffon vulture and lammergeier. Endemic birds include Caucasian black grouse, Caucasian snowcock and Caucasian chiffchaff. Other alpine birds are red– billed and yellow– billed choughs and great rosefinch. The latter species, whose main range lies in Himalayas, forms an isolated population in the Greater Caucasus Mountains.
  The area represents a contact zone between two species of mountain goats– – East Caucasian and West Caucasian turs. Chamois, brown bear, wolf, lynx, roe deer, and wild boar are quite common. One can occasionally meet endemic Caucasian mole, Pontic wood mouse, Shelkownikow’ s water shrew, and Promethe’ s vole. Herpetological fauna is modest: sand lizard, smooth and ring snakes, Dinnick’ s adder, and a local subspecies of Georgian rock lizard with a bright blue belly. The area is covered by mostly coniferous forest dominated by eastern spruce and Nordmann’ s fir, with evergreen plants in the understory, such as cherry laurel, butcher’ s broom and holly. An endemic Delphinium caucasicum can be found in the subnival zone, along with a number of carnation species (Dianthus).
 The area is very attractive for people interested in mountain tourism, hiking, and ethnography.
  From June through September.
 Every day, minibuses depart for the central town of Svaneti, Mestia, from Kutaisi in western Georgia. Travel by car from Kutaisi takes 4– 6 hours, due to the poor road quality.
 There is a hotel in Mestia. Lodging in private homes is possible as well. Camping is not recommended. There are many restaurants and cafés en route and in Mestia. We strongly recommend arranging a trip to this region in advance and leave arrangements to a tourist agency in Georgia.
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