Natural areas worth visiting in Georgia. Nature conservation areas of Javakheti.

The ecosystem of this region of Georgia with its mountain steppes, subalpine tallgrass and alpine meadows, relict subalpine forest groves, swamp and aquatic plants and dozens of endemic species represents one of the unique habitats in the Caucasian ecoregion.

The special international importance of Javakheti is due to the presence here of territories with high humidity on high-altitude plateaus and at high altitude from sea level, which are a crossroads on the migration path of birds of Europe, Asia and Africa. According to international environmental protection law, territories with high humidity of Javakheti are classified under the Ramsar Convention.

The protected territories of Javakheti are the result of the first cross-border environmental cooperation in the Caucasus. The formation of these territories began for the first time in Georgia on the basis of European experience and methodology of landscape planning. Based on the conclusions of landscape planning, it will be possible to create a national park: nature reserves, protected landscape and nature.

In the Javakheti Highlands, in the form of territories with high humidity, there are lakes of volcanic origin, as well as swamps formed during the geological period as a result of lake eutrophication. Of the lakes, it should be noted: Konakhi (on the border with Turkey), Khanchali, Madatafa, Bugdasheni, Sagamo and Tabatskuri.

There are 275 species of birds in the area of protected areas, which is 3/4 of all species of birds in Georgia. There are at least 225 main species of birds in the mountainous part of Javakheti, and approximately 50 species of birds in this territory are rare or appear periodically.

The region is rich in natural and historical monuments. Not far from the protected areas of Javakheti there are many national parks and reserves, as well as the monastery complex of Vardzia and the Hertvis fortress.