Cave complexes in Georgia. Where were the dinosaur footprints found? Imereti Cave complex.

Here the annual precipitation reaches 2000 mm . There are several karst caves not far from the dinosaur tracks. The length of the largest of them reaches several hundred meters, and the height is 10 meters. In order to protect dinosaur tracks and caves, a nature reserve was established in 1935, on the basis of which a nature conservation area was created. Not only speleological, but also geological, paleontological, zoological and botanical monuments are preserved here. Most of the territory is covered with Colchian forests, the undergrowth of which is dominated by several species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs.

About seven dozen plant species are represented in the nature protection area, which covers an area of only 3.5 km2. Three species of higher plants belong to the Caucasian endemes, and one - to the Georgian. Half of the plants belong to the relics of the tertiary period, which is a very rare phenomenon for territories located in similar latitudes. Among the relics, it should be noted: Caucasian hornbeam (Carpinus caucasica), Georgian oak (Quercus iberica), Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), chestnut (Castanea sativa), Imeretian buckthorn (Rhamnus imeretina), common alder (Alnus barbata), Colchian buckthorn (Staphylea pinnata), boxwood (Buxus colchica). Boxwood in the form of a grove forms an evergreen undergrowth, the age of individual specimens of which reaches one hundred years. The protected area is home to more than fifty species of living creatures, among which the local birds are especially noteworthy.

Not far from the nature protection area there are many ancient historical and archaeological monuments. Of these, it should be noted: the ancient settlement of Vani, the early medieval Ubisi Church, the Church of the Holy Martyrs (Motsameta), also the Gelati monastery complex and Bagrat Cathedral, which are included in the list of monuments protected by UNESCO.