Durudji Boulder in Kakheti: Largest Moving Rock at 224 Tonnes

In the valley of the Duruji River – the left tributary of the Alazani – there is a sandstone boulder that has descended from the mudflow, the size of which is 5.8x4.2x4 m. Among the moving stones, this boulder is the largest in Kakheti. The greatest mudslide that brought down this 224-ton boulder in 1899 had disastrous consequences: the city of Kvareli was washed away, 6 people were killed.

The Duruji River originated on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus Range as a result of the confluence of the White and Black Duruji rivers. The Black Duruji originates from Mount Shavi Klde (black rock), the White Duruji River – on the southern slope of Mount Ninikastsikhe. The length of the Duruji River is 27 km . It is mainly fed by snow and rainwater and is characterized by floods. Duruji demolishes a huge amount of solid substances turned into mud from the mountains, thereby creating a danger to the city of Kvareli, in the western part of which it flows.

After 1899, the water level in the Duruja River rose many times: the next tragedy occurred in 1904 – the river washed away the city and carried out cradles with babies from the houses. In 1907, on the initiative of the great Georgian poet and public figure Ilya Chavchavadze, protective dams were built in the city. However, in 1949, the powerful mudflows that swept over these dams. This time the elements claimed 56 lives. A large number of livestock were killed, vineyards, orchards and vegetable gardens were destroyed.

After the disaster, a stone dam with a length of 5.5 km and a height of 7 m was erected. Today this structure is one of the attractions of Kvareli.