Something about Georgia.
Background:

The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence.

Area:
total: 69,700 sq km

Land boundaries:
total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km.

Terrain:

largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland.

Natural resources:
forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth.
       
Georgia with its high valleys, wide basins, health spas with mineral waters, caves and waterfalls is a land of striking beauty. The capital, Tbilisi, stands on the banks of the River Mtkvari, in a valley surrounded by hills. It is best seen from the top of Mount Mtatsminda. With its stone houses built around vine-draped courtyards and winding streets, the city has a lively and Mediterranean atmosphere.
The Georgia has one of the highest concentrations of plant species known from any temperate part of the world. Bordered to the north by Russia, to the east by Azerbaijan, to the south by Armenia and Turkey, and to the west by the Black Sea, Georgia's 69,700 sq. km are home to an exceptional plant diversity in an area where the European and Asian floras intersect.
The Greater Caucasus Mountains traverse northern Georgia, the Lesser Caucasus Mountains cross the southern edge and a rich central valley is bounded by the dry Iori Plateau and Alazani Valley to the ast and the humid lowlands of Kolkheti Plain to the west. This topographic diversity, including mountain peaks that exceed 5000 meters (Shkara), coupled with a diverse array of climatic influences, gives rise to a complex mosaic of vegetation zones that support a high diversity of plants.
        
Georgia's flora is estimated at 4100 vascular species, one-fifth of which are endemics. The county holds a great number of species of medicinal value, with over 700 species utilized in Georgian traditional medicine and 200 taxa registered in the official pharmacopoeia. The Caucasus, and in particular Georgia, has been identified as a biodiversity "hot spot"; areas which cover only 1.4% of the earth's land area but are home to 44% of known plant species.

Hundreds of Georgian plant species are threatended withe extinction or serious genetic erosion. The vast majority of the medicinal plants of Georgia are gathered from the wild, and in some cases are heavily exploited, potentially threatening the long-term survival of these plant species and the medicinal resources they represent.

Climate:
Warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast.
                 
The climate varies from Mediterranean and sub-tropical in the west, to Alpine in the highlands of the north and south, to Continental in the eastern plains and valleys. In West Georgia the dominant subtropical climate is distinguished by high humidity and heavy precipitation, while East Georgia has a more continental and drier climate. The alpine zone begins at about 2,100 meters; above 3,600 meters snow and ice are present during the entire year. The average summer temperatures range from 20°C to 24°C, average winter temperatures range from 2°C to 4°C.
                
Geography - note:
strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them.

Population:

4,646,003 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 413,506/female 364,407)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 1,489,081/female 1,605,021)
65 years and over: 16.7% (male 311,098/female 462,890) (2007 est.)

Median age:
total: 38 years
male: 35.5 years
female: 40.4 years (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.3 years
male: 73 years
female: 80.07 years (2007 est.)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

History
           
Georgia is Greek for "the land of farmers". The native name is Sakartvelo, or "the land of the Kartvels", as Georgians call themselves. Historically this name applied only to central Georgia. Western Georgia was known between the sixth century B.C. and third century A.D. as Colchis; the east was part of Iberia. The Egrisi (Lazica) Kingdom flourished in the third and fourth centuries. Situated on strategic territory, Georgia was invaded or otherwise influenced by Arabs, Persians, and Turks prior to the tenth century.
Georgia's "Golden Age" occurred in the 11th and 12th centuries. King David the Builder (ruled 1089-1125) created a strong, ethnically mixed, and internationally active state. Under the rule of Queen Tamar (1184-1213), Georgia's territory and population (12 million) were at their largest. A 13th-century Mongol invasion ushered in a gradual decline.
    
Exhausted by repeated wars and famines, Georgia sought protection from the Orthodox Christian Russian Empire. A protectorate treaty was signed in 1783, but it did not protect the region from a devastating Persian invasion in 1795. In 1801, the last Georgian king, Giorgi XII, asked Russia for autonomous incorporation into the Russian Empire. Russia obliged but, by 1864, had fully annexed the entire region.
Despite intense Russification, the 19th century was marked by a Georgian cultural revival led by nobleman Ilia Chavchavadze. He was assassinated in 1907 by opponents of Georgian nationalism. The 1917 Russian revolution reopened the door to Georgian independence, which was declared in May 1918. The door closed quickly in 1921 when the Red Army invaded and began the period of Sovietization.
Although Joseph Stalin was an ethnic Georgian (real last name: Jugashvili), Georgia suffered his repression like all Soviet republics. While resistance to Moscow's rule was not overtly apparent for many years, with the exception of a 1956 protest that was put down by tanks, Georgians never accepted Soviet ideology. In April 1989, several political protesters were killed by Soviet troops, and Georgians pressed for independence. It was declared in April 1991 following elections that removed Communists from power.

Legend about Georgia

The following legend very well describes Georgia's fabulous natural beauty. When God was distributing the lands of the world, the Georgians were feasting; therefore they were late for the distribution.
When they heard that God was partitioning the land, they decided to go and ask him for their share.
However, by the time they arrived in front of God, all the lands had already been distributed.

God then asked them why they were late. The Georgians said that they were feasting and drinking toasts to God. God was very touched by this and was very sorry. He decided to give them the precious little piece of land He had kept for Himself. If you have never been in Georgia, you can imagine how wonderful and amazing this country is!


In brief:

In the World there are 14 written language. One of them is Georgian.
In 2000 we celebrated the 3000th anniversary of Georgian statehood;
In Georgian village called Dmanisi, the skull of the first inhabitant of Europe was found (1.7 million years old);
The Argonauts sailed to West Georgia to obtain the Golden Fleece;
The famous Great Silk Road passed through Georgia and parts of it are still visible today near Uplistsikhe cave town;
Georgia became an Orthodox Christian country in the year 337 AD (4th Christian state in the world);
Napoleon's death mask (one from four) is displayed in the Zugdidi historical museum;
At 2400 meters Ushguli is the highest village in Europe;
Georgian script dates to the 5th century BC and is one of only fourteen in the world;
The earliest Georgian "novel" dates to the 5th century AD;
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is protected by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund);
Georgia is a cradle of viticulture;
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (three of them) are located in Georgia;
The ancient theatre is found in Uplistsikhe;
Georgia is considered to be the "Geographical and transport axis", which is connecting many countries of East and West;
                                      
There are approximately 26060 rivers in Georgia, total length of which is 59746km. The length majority of the rivers (97%) don't exceed 10 km;
Georgian world of flora and fauna is multifarious and rich. It estimates approximately 13.300 species;
There are 850 lakes (169 square km.) in Georgia occupying 0.24% of the whole territory of the country;
            
Georgian wildlife (animal world, fauna) is very rich. There is known around 100 species of mammals, more than 330 species of birds, 48 sort of reptiles, 11 species of amphibian and approximately 160 kinds of fish.


Temur Lursmanashvili