Glaciers of Georgia

The glaciers of Georgia are mainly located along the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, covering a total surface area of 506 km² (approx. 0.7% of the country's territory). A number of smaller glaciers may also be found on the adjacent ranges of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. Most of Georgia's 688 glaciers are either classified as valley or hanging glaciers.

Western Georgia's glacial system is fairly well-developed with numerous glaciers occurring anywhere from the source of the Bzyb River to the Mamison Pass. The nation's largest glaciers are found in the Inguri River basin of this region. Eastern Georgia's glaciers generally occur in smaller, isolated groups. In addition, the mountain ranges that are located to the north of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range are more glaciated than the adjacent ranges that branch out from the southern slopes of the Caucasus. The line of glaciation ranges between 2,800-2,900 meters above sea level in western Georgia to 3,600 meters in extreme eastern Georgia, near Lagodekhi. The contrast is mainly due to differences in climate that are caused by a general west-east reduction in precipitation, which is responsible for a more continental climate in parts of eastern Georgia.

References

* "Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia." 1981. Supplementary Edition. p. 20.