Britata Travertines in Georgia: Limestone Deposits from Hot Springs
The Tskhinvali region is located on the southern slope of the Central Caucasus Range between the main watershed range and the northern part of the Shida Kartli plain. The municipality of Java is located in the northern part of the region between the municipalities of Tskhinvali and Oni, in the valley of the Didi Liakhvi River. This mountainous area, covered with magnificent mixed deciduous forests, where oaks, beech, spruce, pine and fir grow, is rich in natural attractions.
Travertine is one of the wonders of nature. It is formed from hot or cold springs: upon reaching the surface, mineral waters deposit substances dissolved underground. Over time, these sediments gather in masses and form layers in unusual shapes. These porous, inelastic, fine-grained rocks attract architects and designers. Travertine is a lighter mineral than marble and granite. And it's easier to process. Therefore, travertine has long been used as a building material. The symbol of Rome, the Colosseum, is built of tuff and lined with travertine.
Travertine is found in several regions of Georgia. At the source of the Patara Liakhvi River and in the valley of the Lehura River, as well as at the Jvari pass. In Western Georgia, travertine is found in Racha, Imereti and Svaneti. In the Java municipality, in the vicinity of the village of Britati and partly on the territory of the village itself, there are significant reserves of limestone travertine in the bowels of the earth. In some places, these reserves are increasing, and in some, the development of travertine deposits has stopped. The volume of reserves reaches several meters.
Not far from Kvemo Britat there is a mineral lake with a diameter of 16-18 m, above which a white cloud forms from the gases released, and it seems as if the water is boiling. Britata is one of the most significant regions of Georgia for the development of travertine.
Location:
Java municipality (Edisi community), the northern slope of the Ermansky range, the left bank of the Britatiskali River (Didi Liakhvi system), at an altitude of 1920 m above sea level.
Coordinates:
N42 31'15''; Е42 11'42''.
How to get:
The Tskhinvali – Edisi– Ermani highway takes you to the village of Shua Ermani in the Java municipality; from the village of Kvemo Ermani, which is connected to Java by road, you need to walk 5 km to Travertine Bretati, the distance from Tbilisi is 167 km, from Gori - 100 km, from Java – 37 km.
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и ещё, это странное сочетание лёгкости и прочности - как будто можно делать из него что угодно. но вот не пойму: его можно использовать и для внешней отделки, и для внутренних пространств, но как он будет вести себя при разной влажности?