- Ushguli
Ushguli or Ushkuli ( _ka. უშგული) is a community of villages located at the head of the Enguri gorge in Upper
Svaneti , Georgia. Ushguli comprises four villages: [http://www.nplg.gov.ge/ic/DGL/work/Englisurebi/Roland_Toplishvili/Svanet_and_its_Inhabitans.htm Svaneti and Its Inhabitants] Roland Topchishvili, nplg.gov.ge]Zhibiani ( _ka. ჟიბიანი) some 2100 m above sea level;
Chvibiani or Chubiani ( _ka. ჩვიბიანი);
Chazhashi or Chajashi ( _ka. ჩაჟაში);
Murqmeli ( _ka. მურყმელი).The Ushguli villages contain buildings that are part of the
UNESCO Heritage site of Upper Svaneti. [http://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/709.pdf World Heritage List - Upper Svaneti] 1993-10-28]Altitude claims for Ushguli villages vary from 2086 to 2200
metre and it is sometimes referred to as the highest village inEurope . [http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?id=8323 DCP: 43 degrees north, 43 degrees east] confluence.org, 'Ushguli is claimed to be the highest inhabited village in Europe and according to my GPS the village is at an elevation of 2086m', 2006-08-27]It is located at the feet of
Shkhara one of the higher Caucasian summits. About 70 families (about 200 people) live in the area and there is a small school. For 6 months of the year snow covers the whole area and often the road toMestia is closed. Typical Svanetian protective towers are found throughout the village. The Ushguli Chapel located on a hilltop near the village dates back to the12th century .Notes
External links
* [http://www.ewpnet.com/georgia/ushguli.htm Ushguli – Svanetia]
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