Georgia: Facts and Information

Here are some facts about the country of Georgia.

  • Georgia was once part of the Soviet Union, and is today a country in the Caucasus region of Europe.
  • It has a population of about 5 million and covers almost 70,000 square km.

  • In 1800, Georgia joined the Russian Empire, and then declared independence in 1918. However, in 1921 it again came under Russian control before becoming independent again in April, 1991.
  • The Krubera Cave in Georgia is the world’s deepest, reaching a depth of at least 2,140 metres.
  • The country’s highest mountain is Mt. Shkhara in the Caucasus range, at 5,968 metres.
  • Georgia has a 300 km coastline along the Black Sea. It was probably named because of the frequent storm clouds in the area, and the ancient Greeks called it the Inhospitable Sea.

Flag of Georgia

  • Tbilisi is the country’s capital and largest city. The name translates as ‘warm location’, and comes from a legend of a bird that fell into a hot spring and was burned.
  • The Tbilisi metro, or underground dates from the 1950s and is known for its ornate stations, many of which are among the deepest in the world.
  • Georgia is one of the world’s oldest Christian countries, adopting Christianity in 337 AD. The country also has one of the oldest Jewish populations in the world.
  • The ancient trade route known as the Silk Road once ran through Georgia.
  • Human skulls dating back at least 1.7 million years have been found in the country.
  • Wrestling is one of the most popular sports in Georgia, and different regions have different rules. Other popular sports include football (soccer), basketball, weightlifting and judo.
  • Georgians like to eat a large meal, called a supra, which can have many courses and last for hours. The head of the supra is an important position, and his task is to make sure everybody is happy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.