Regional Geography of Georgia: Regions, Capitals and Regional Contrasts
The Regional Geography of Georgia domain tests whether you can locate the country's regions and explain how relief, climate and history give each a distinct economy. Expect identification questions ("which region...?") and comparison questions that demand evidence.
The regional map
Georgia is divided into nine regions plus the city of Tbilisi, and two autonomous republics (Adjara and Abkhazia); Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region are outside central control. Learn region–capital pairs: Kakheti–Telavi, Kvemo Kartli–Rustavi, Shida Kartli–Gori, Mtskheta-Mtianeti–Mtskheta, Samtskhe-Javakheti–Akhaltsikhe, Imereti–Kutaisi, Guria–Ozurgeti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti–Zugdidi, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti–Ambrolauri, Adjara–Batumi.
West versus east
- Western Georgia (Adjara, Guria, Samegrelo, Imereti, Abkhazia) is humid subtropical: tea, citrus, hazelnuts and maize, with high rainfall and landslide risk on steep slopes.
- Eastern Georgia (Kakheti, Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti) is drier: wheat, vines and fruit, with irrigation from the Mtkvari and Alazani.
Region profiles
- Kakheti: Alazani valley, around 70% of grape output, qvevri winemaking, Telavi, Sighnaghi, David Gareja.
- Samtskhe-Javakheti: volcanic Javakheti plateau, potatoes and livestock, Borjomi mineral water, Vardzia, and Akhalkalaki with an Armenian majority.
- Kvemo Kartli: Rustavi metallurgy, Gardabani power, Azerbaijani villages, Bolnisi.
- Svaneti: Enguri dam, UNESCO-listed tower villages at Mestia and Ushguli, glacier-fed rivers.
- Adjara: Batumi port and seaside tourism, citrus and tea on the coastal lowland, transhumant livestock in Upper Adjara.
Worked example
Question: identify the region - a high volcanic plateau above 1,800 m, cold winters, potato fields, an Armenian-speaking majority and a border crossing to Armenia. Reasoning: altitude and volcanism point to the Javakheti plateau; the Armenian majority and the Armenian border confirm Samtskhe-Javakheti (Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda). Give the region name and the two decisive pieces of evidence; one clue alone is not a full answer.
Traps that cost marks
- Treating Tbilisi as the capital of a surrounding region instead of a separate unit.
- Listing Adjara and Abkhazia as ordinary regions - both are autonomous republics.
- Assuming all of western Georgia is mountainous; the Colchis lowland is flat and densely settled.
- Naming Batumi as the capital of Guria (it is Ozurgeti) or Kutaisi as the capital of Samegrelo (it is Zugdidi).