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.
- 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.
