Georgia

Georgia is located on the Southern slopes of the Great Caucasus Mountain Range, on the isthmus between the Black and Caspian Seas and covers an area of 69,700 km2 with a maximum altitude of 5,068 meters above sea level.
As a consequence to its geological history, its very diverse relief and climatic zones, a developed hydrographic system and a wide variety of soils, Georgia is rich in biodiversity and hosts a high level of endemism. Georgia is listed in two of the world’s 34 “biodiversity hotspots”: the Caucasus and the Irano-Anatolian hotspots. WWF also identified the area as one of the priority “Global 200 Ecoregions”.
A wide array of ecosystems is concentrated in a relatively small area contributing to the uniquely high level of biodiversity. Major biomes include floodplain forest, semi-desert, steppe, arid light woodland and hemixeropyte scrub, forest, sub-alpine, alpine, subnival and nival zones and wetlands.
Georgia’s flora is remarkably rich. There are 4,300 species of vascular plants, 600 of which are endemic to the Caucasus region and 300 endemic to the country. The country has a diverse fauna with 16,054 species described to date. The vertebrate fauna is presented by 758 species, with 76 mammal, 300 bird, 52 reptile, 12 amphibians and 84 fish species, including Caucasian endemics.
Georgia is considered to be one of the centres of origin of many domesticated plant and animal species, greatly supporting the agrobiodiversity of the region.
The number of IUCN Members in Georgia has increased since the IUCN Caucasus Cooperation Centre opened in 2007. Georgia is a State Member and five national organizations are NGO Members.

How to get

BY AIR
Flights: Most travelers arrive by air, to cities: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi.

Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) is located in 18km (11 miles) east of Tbilisi city centre.

BY ROAD
Getting to Georgia by road is available from  Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russian Federation.

Armenia - Georgia 
Sadakhlo / Bagratashen (South- East Georgia). Distance to Tbilisi - 90 km. 
Bavra (the Southern Georgia). Distance to Tbilisi- 330 km. 

Azerbaijan - Georgia 
Lagodekhi / Tsodna (Eastern Georgia). Distance to Tbilisi - 170 km. 
Red Bridge (South - East Georgia). Distance to Tbilisi - 70 km. 
Vakhtangisi (Southern Georgia). Distance to Tbilisi 60 km, to Gardabani 20 km.

Georgia - Turkey 
Sarpi (West Georgia). Distance to Tbilisi - 400 km, to Batumi -15 km. 
Vale (South West Georgia). Distance to Tbilisi - 300 km, to Akhaltsikhe -30 km. 

RAIL
Getting to Georgia by rail is available from  Armenia and Azerbaijan.

SEA
The main ports of Georgia are Batumi and Poti. They provide international connections with the Black Sea ports of llichovsky (Ukraine), Varna (Bulgaria), Sochi, Bourgas (Bulgaria) and Novorosiysk (Russia). 

No visa is required for the cruise ship passengers who stay in Georgian port for less than 72 hours.

For visa regulation updates and additional consular information, please follow the link:www.mfa.gov.ge
 

Climate:

West Georgia- subtropical climate, midwinter 5 C and midsummer average 22 C,

East Georgia-continental climate , low humidity , midsummer average 20-24 C , midwinter 2-4C.

Highest Mountains:

Shkhara – 5068 m ( 16,627 ft )

Janga – 5059 m ( 16,597 ft )

Mkinvartsveri ( Kazbek) – 5047 m ( 16, 558 ft )

Shota Rustaveli – 4860 m ( 15,944 ft)

Tetnuldi – 4858 m ( 15,938 ft)

Ushba – 4700 m( 15,419 ft )

Religion: majority, mainly Greek Orthodoxy,

other confessional groups include  Gregorian, Muslims,  Catholics, Baptists, Judaists.