Georgia is located at the meeting-point of Europe and Asia (41°07′- 43°35’N latitude and 40°05′- 46°44’E longitude), between the Black Sea and the Caspian lowland, on the southern slopes of the Caucasian Mountain Range. Its capital, Tbilisi, with a population of over 1 500 000 is located at 41 °47’N, 44°40’E.

Mt. Elbrus

Sukhumi

Despite Georgia’s relatively small area it possesses an impressive variety of geographical and climatic zones. In a relatively short distance you can move from subtropics to alpine
zones and from forests to sunny valleys or even semi-deserts. The climate of eastern Georgia is dry and continental with warm summers and moderate winters. Western Georgia, on the Black Sea coast, is marked by a warm and humid (subtropical) climate, with mild winters and comparatively hot summers.

1.1 Terrain

The terrain is largely mountainous with the Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; the Colchida lowland opens to the Black Sea in the west, with the Mtkvari river basin in the east.

Lowest point: 0 m — Black Sea

Highest point: 5 201 m — Mt. Shkhara (on the border with Russia)

1.2 Climatic data for Tbilisi

Average annual temperature [35] Highest recorded temperature 1 Lowest recorded temperature 1 Average annual precipitation 1 Average wind speed 2 Annual total solar radiation [36] Number of sunny days 3 Annual average sunshine time 3 Ratio of actual sunshine time to maximum possible 3