Editing Georgia (country) (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Georgia (country)}}
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map GEO present.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[Köppen climate classification]] map of Georgia]]
Georgia is a mountainous country situated almost entirely in the [[South Caucasus]], while [[Eastern Georgia (country)|some slivers]] of the country are situated north of the [[Greater Caucasus#Watershed|Caucasus Watershed]] in the [[North Caucasus]].<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/100270/Caucasus 'Caucasus (region and mountains, Eurasia)'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427041609/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/100270/Caucasus |date=27 April 2010 }}. ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', 2010: "Occupying roughly {{convert|170000|mi2|km2|abbr=on}}, it is divided among Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia and forms part of the traditional dividing line between Europe and Asia. It is bisected by the Caucasus Mountains; the area north of the Greater Caucasus range is called Ciscaucasia and the region to the south Transcaucasia. Inhabited from ancient times, it was under nominal Persian and Turkish suzerainty until conquered by Russia in the 18th–19th centuries."</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cesww.fas.harvard.edu/ces_definition.html|title=CESWW – Definition of Central Eurasia|publisher=Cesww.fas.harvard.edu|access-date=6 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805052739/http://cesww.fas.harvard.edu/ces_definition.html|archive-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> The country lies between latitudes [[41st parallel north|41°]] and [[44th parallel north|44° N]], and longitudes [[40th meridian east|40°]] and [[47th meridian east|47° E]], with an area of {{convert|67900|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}. The [[Likhi Range]] divides the country into eastern and western halves.<ref name="Cac">{{cite web|url=http://www.cac-biodiversity.org/geo/geo_geography.htm |title=Georgia:Geography |publisher=Cac-biodiversity.org |access-date=3 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511110424/http://www.cac-biodiversity.org/geo/geo_geography.htm |archive-date=11 May 2011 }}</ref> Historically, the western portion of Georgia was known as Colchis while the eastern plateau was called Iberia.<ref name="NAG">[[Nana Bolashvili]], Andreas Dittmann, Lorenz King, Vazha Neidze (eds.): '''''National Atlas of Georgia – Nationalatlas von Georgien''''', 138 pages, Steiner Verlag, 2018{{ISBN|978-3-515-12057-9}}</ref>

The [[Greater Caucasus]] Mountain Range forms the northern border of Georgia.<ref name="Cac" /> The main roads through the mountain range into Russian territory lead through the Roki Tunnel between [[Shida Kartli]] and North Ossetia and the [[Darial Gorge]] (in the Georgian region of [[Khevi]]). The southern portion of the country is bounded by the [[Lesser Caucasus]] Mountains.<ref name="Cac" /> The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range is much higher in elevation than the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, with the highest peaks rising more than {{convert|5000|m|ft|0}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].

[[File:Kasbek from Tsminda Gergeti (10600419415).jpg|thumb|[[Mount Kazbek]] in northeastern Georgia]]

The highest mountain in Georgia is Mount [[Shkhara]] at {{convert|5203|m|ft|0}}, and the second highest is Mount [[Janga (mountain)|Janga]] at {{convert|5059|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level. Other prominent peaks include [[Mount Kazbek]] at {{convert|5047|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, [[Shota Rustaveli Peak]] {{convert|4960|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, [[Tetnuldi]] {{convert|4858|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, [[Ushba]] {{convert|4700|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, and [[Ailama]] {{convert|4547|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Cac" /> Out of the abovementioned peaks, only Kazbek is of [[volcanic]] origin. The region between [[Kazbek]] and Shkhara (a distance of about {{convert|200|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} along the Main Caucasus Range) is dominated by numerous glaciers.<ref name="NAG"/>

The term Lesser Caucasus Mountains is often used to describe the mountainous (highland) areas of southern Georgia that are connected to the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range by the Likhi Range.<ref name="Cac" /> The overall region can be characterized as being made up of various, interconnected mountain ranges (largely of volcanic origin) and plateaus that do not exceed {{convert|3400|m|ft|0}} in elevation. Prominent features of the area include the [[Javakheti Volcanic Plateau]], lakes, including [[Tabatskuri Lake|Tabatskuri]] and [[Paravani Lake|Paravani]], as well as mineral water and hot springs. Two major [[List of rivers of Georgia (country)|rivers in Georgia]] are the [[Rioni River|Rioni]] and the [[Mtkvari River|Mtkvari]].<ref name="NAG"/>

=== Topography ===
[[File:Zemo Svaneti, June, 2018-10.jpg|thumb|Svaneti region of Georgia]]
[[File:სვანეთი,ქურულდის ტბები.jpg|thumb|right|Mountain lakes in the country's northwest]]
The landscape within the nation's boundaries is quite varied. Western Georgia's landscape ranges from low-land marsh-forests, swamps, and [[temperate rainforest]]s to eternal snows and glaciers, while the eastern part of the country even contains a small segment of [[semi-arid]] plains.<ref name="NAG"/>

Much of the natural habitat in the low-lying areas of western Georgia has disappeared during the past 100 years because of [[agricultural development]] and urbanization. A large majority of the forests that covered the Colchis plain are now virtually non-existent with the exception of the regions that are included in the national parks and reserves (e.g. [[Lake Paliastomi]] area). At present, the forest cover generally remains outside of the low-lying areas and is mainly located along the foothills and the mountains. Western Georgia's forests consist mainly of deciduous trees below {{convert|600|m|ft|0}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]] and contain species such as [[oak]], [[hornbeam]], [[Oriental Beech|beech]], [[elm]], [[ash tree|ash]], and [[Sweet Chestnut|chestnut]]. Evergreen species such as [[Buxus|box]] may also be found in many areas. About 1,000 of the 4,000 higher plants of Georgia are [[endemic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.endemic-species-caucasus.info/ |title=Endemic Species of the Caucasus |publisher=Endemic-species-caucasus.info |date=7 January 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412080946/http://www.endemic-species-caucasus.info/ |archive-date=12 April 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Kościół Vanis Kvabebi we wsi Vardzia.jpg|thumb|A chapel in the cave city of [[Vardzia]], with the valley of the [[Kura (Caspian Sea)|Kura River]] below]]

The west-central slopes of the [[Meskheti Range]] in [[Ajaria]] as well as several locations in Samegrelo and Abkhazia are covered by [[temperate rain forests]]. Between {{convert|600|-|1000|m|ft|0}} above sea level, the deciduous forest becomes mixed with both broad-leaf and coniferous species making up the plant life. The zone is made up mainly of beech, [[Caucasian Spruce|spruce]], and [[Nordmann Fir|fir]] forests. From {{convert|1500|-|1800|m|ft|0}}, the forest becomes largely coniferous. The tree line generally ends at around {{convert|1800|m|ft|0}} and the alpine zone takes over, which in most areas, extends up to an elevation of {{convert|3000|m|ft|0}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].<ref name="NAG"/>
Eastern Georgia's landscape (referring to the territory east of the [[Likhi Range]]) is considerably different from that of the west, although, much like the Colchis plain in the west, nearly all of the low-lying areas of eastern Georgia including the [[Mtkvari]] and [[Alazani]] River plains have been [[deforestation|deforested]] for agricultural purposes.{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}} The general landscape of eastern Georgia comprises numerous valleys and gorges that are separated by mountains. In contrast with western Georgia, nearly 85 per cent of the forests of the region are deciduous. Coniferous forests only dominate in the [[Borjomi Gorge]] and in the extreme western areas. Out of the deciduous species of trees, [[beech]], [[oak]], and [[hornbeam]] dominate. Other deciduous species include several varieties of [[maple]], [[aspen]], ash, and [[hazelnut]].<ref name="NAG"/>

At higher elevations above {{convert|1000|m|ft|0}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]] (particularly in the [[Tusheti]], [[Khevsureti]], and [[Khevi]] regions), [[Scots Pine|pine]] and [[birch]] forests dominate. In general, the forests in eastern Georgia occur between {{convert|500|-|2000|m|ft|0}} above sea level, with the alpine zone extending from 2,000–2,300 to 3,000–3,500 meters (6,562–7,546 to 9,843–11,483&nbsp;ft). The only remaining large, low-land forests remain in the [[Alazani]] Valley of Kakheti.<ref name="NAG"/>

=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Georgia (country)}}
[[File:Waterfall in Mtirala National Park.JPG|thumb|right|Parts of Western Georgia have a subtropical climate, with frequent rain and plenty of green vegetation.]]
[[File:Chaukhi Mountain & Tina Lake, Juta Valley, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia.jpg|thumb|right|A small [[alpine lake]] in northeastern Georgia]]
The climate of Georgia is extremely diverse, considering the nation's small size. There are two main climatic zones, roughly corresponding to the eastern and western parts of the country. The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range plays an important role in moderating Georgia's climate and protects the nation from the penetration of colder air masses from the north. The Lesser Caucasus Mountains partially protect the region from the influence of dry and hot air masses from the south.<ref name="Georgia">{{cite news |last1=Howe |first1=G. Melvyn |last2=Lang |first2=David Marshall |title=Georgia |newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Georgia |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=17 December 2020}}</ref>

Much of western Georgia lies within the northern periphery of the humid subtropical zone with annual precipitation ranging from {{convert|1000|–|2500|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}, reaching a maximum during the Autumn months. The climate of the region varies significantly with elevation and while much of the lowland areas of western Georgia are relatively warm throughout the year, the foothills and mountainous areas (including both the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains) experience cool, wet summers and snowy winters (snow cover often exceeds {{convert|2|m|disp=or}} in many regions).<ref name="Georgia" />

Eastern Georgia has a transitional climate from humid subtropical to continental. The region's weather patterns are influenced both by dry Caspian air masses from the east and humid Black Sea air masses from the west. The penetration of humid air masses from the Black Sea is often blocked by mountain ranges ([[Likhi Range|Likhi]] and [[Meskheti]]) that separate the eastern and western parts of the nation.<ref name="NAG"/> The wettest periods generally occur during spring and autumn, while winter and summer months tend to be the driest. Much of eastern Georgia experiences hot summers (especially in the low-lying areas) and relatively cold winters. As in the western parts of the nation, elevation plays an important role in eastern Georgia where climatic conditions above {{convert|1500|m|ft|0}} are considerably colder than in the low-lying areas.<ref name="NAG"/>

=== Biodiversity ===
{{See also|List of fauna of Georgia (country){{!}}List of fauna of Georgia|List of fish of the Black Sea}}
[[File:Female Georgian Shepherd - Khevi, Georgia (3).jpg|thumb|[[Georgian Shepherd]] Dog]]
[[File:Ჯიხვი ლაგოდეხის ნაკრძალში.jpg|thumb|[[East Caucasian tur]] on the cliffs of [[Lagodekhi Protected Areas]]]]
Because of its high landscape diversity and low latitude, Georgia is home to about 5,601 species of animals, including 648 species of [[vertebrate]]s (more than 1% of the species found worldwide) and many of these species are endemics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biodiversity-georgia.net/index.php?taxon=Chordata |title=Eucariota, Animalia, Chordata |publisher=Institute of Ecology |date=2015 |website=Georgian Biodiversity Database |access-date=7 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625014140/http://www.biodiversity-georgia.net/index.php?taxon=Chordata |archive-date=25 June 2016 }}</ref> A number of large [[carnivore]]s live in the forests, namely [[brown bear]]s, [[wolf|wolves]], [[lynx]]es and [[Panthera pardus tulliana|Caucasian leopards]]. The [[common pheasant]] (also known as the Colchian pheasant) is an endemic bird of Georgia which has been widely introduced throughout the rest of the world as a [[game bird]]. The number of [[invertebrate]] species is considered to be very high but data is distributed across a high number of publications. The spider checklist of Georgia, for example, includes 501 species.<ref name="Caucasus-spiders.info">{{cite web|url=http://caucasus-spiders.info/introduction/checklists/ |title=Caucasian Spiders " Checklists & Maps |publisher=Caucasus-spiders.info |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328225817/http://caucasus-spiders.info/introduction/checklists/ |archive-date=28 March 2009 }}</ref> The [[Rioni|Rioni River]] may contain a breeding population of the critically endangered [[bastard sturgeon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?364051/ship-sturgeon-georgia |title=Dramatic Double Sturgeon Discovery in Georgia |publisher=WWF |date=15 June 2020 |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref>

Slightly more than 6,500 species of [[Fungus|fungi]], including lichen-forming species, have been recorded from Georgia,<ref>Nakhutsrishvili, I.G. ["Flora of Spore Producing Plants of Georgia (Summary)"]. 888 pp., Tbilisi, Academy of Science of the Georgian SSR, 1986</ref><ref name="cybertruffle1">{{cite web |url=http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/robigalia/eng/index.htm |title=Cybertruffle's Robigalia – Observations of fungi and their associated organisms |publisher=cybertruffle.org.uk |access-date=27 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920032737/http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/robigalia/eng/index.htm |archive-date=20 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> but this number is far from complete. The true total number of fungal species occurring in Georgia, including species not yet recorded, is likely to be far higher, given the generally accepted estimate that only about seven per cent of all fungi worldwide have so far been discovered.<ref>Kirk, P.M., Cannon, P.F., Minter, D.W. and Stalpers, J. "Dictionary of the Fungi". Edn 10. CABI, 2008</ref> Although the amount of available information is still very small, a first effort has been made to estimate the number of fungal species endemic to Georgia, and 2,595 species have been tentatively identified as possible endemics of the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/gruzfung/eng/endelist.htm |title=Fungi of Georgia – potential endemics |publisher=cybertruffle.org.uk |access-date=27 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927173031/http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/gruzfung/eng/endelist.htm |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> 1,729 species of plants have been recorded from Georgia in association with fungi.<ref name="cybertruffle1" /> According to the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]], there are 4,300 species of vascular plants in Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iucn.org/content/georgia-%E2%80%93-haven-biodiversity|title=Georgia – a haven for biodiversity|date=7 December 2012|website=IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature|access-date=29 June 2019}}{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Georgia is home to four ecoregions: [[Caucasus mixed forests]], [[Euxine-Colchic deciduous forests]], [[Eastern Anatolian montane steppe]], and [[Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287|doi-access=free}}</ref> It had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 7.79/10, ranking it 31st globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |doi-access=free}}</ref>