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Mtirala National Park

Coordinates: 41°41′51.1″N 41°53′22.2″E / 41.697528°N 41.889500°E / 41.697528; 41.889500
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Mtirala National Park
Waterfall in Mtirala National Park
Map showing the location of Mtirala National Park
Map showing the location of Mtirala National Park
Map showing the location of Mtirala National Park
Map showing the location of Mtirala National Park
Location Georgia
Nearest cityBatumi
Coordinates41°41′51.1″N 41°53′22.2″E / 41.697528°N 41.889500°E / 41.697528; 41.889500
Area281.26 km2 (108.60 sq mi)[1]
Established2006
Governing bodyAgency of Protected Areas
WebsiteMtirala National Park Administration

Mtirala National Park (Georgian: მტირალას ეროვნული პარკი; meaning "to cry"; previously, Tsiskara Reserve)[2] is a protected area in Adjara region, Western Georgia.[1] Covering approximately 15,698 hectares (38,790 acres) in the municipalities of Kobuleti, Khelvachauri and Keda in the western Lesser Caucasus, it is situated between the Black Sea and the Adjara Mountains. It also adjoins the Kintrishi Protected Areas. Owing to its outstanding relict forests, diversity of wetland ecosystems, and biodiversity, the national park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands in 2021.[3]


Biodiversity

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Mtirala National Park is located within the Euxine-Colchic deciduous forests ecoregion/[4] Because of the funnel-like orientation of the surrounding mountains (The Greater Caucasus and Lesser Caucasus), the national park is extremely humid, with rainfall in the area often exceeding 4 meters per year.[5] Mount Mtirala is one of the most humid areas in the country. The name Mtirala (meaning "to cry") is derived from the 4,520 millimetres (178 in) annual rainfall, making it one of the wettest areas of the former Soviet Union.

The high rainfall and topographic diversity of the national park has allowed for the persistence of a wide diversity of habitats and species. Habitats within the park range from lowland forests to mountain meadows, including sweet chestnut and Oriental beech woods with pontic rhododendron, cherry laurel and Colchic box understories and a variety of lianas.[5] Local fauna include the brown bear, roe deer, wild boar, booted eagle, eagle owl, golden oriole, Caucasian salamander, Caucasian toad, Eurasian marsh frog, and Caucasian viper.[6] In addition, Mtirala National Park is located along the "Batumi bottleneck", which is a convergence zone for migrating raptor species. In total, more than 1 million raptors of 35 different species migrate through the park in the autumn, including greater than 50% of the global populations of the booted eagle and European honey-buzzard.[3][5]

The start of the main hiking route through Mtirala National Park

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Mtirala in Georgia Protected Planet
  2. ^ Burford, Tim (2011). Georgia. Bradt. pp. 236–. ISBN 978-1-84162-357-3.
  3. ^ a b "Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  4. ^ Nakhutsrishvili, George (23 August 2012). The Vegetation of Georgia (South Caucasus). Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 223–. ISBN 978-3-642-29915-5.
  5. ^ a b c Valerian Mchedlidze; Toma Dekanoidze; Tamar Khakhishvili; Nata Sultanishvili; Lia Salia; Davit Kobakhidze; Khatuna Tsikaluri; Ana Akhalaia; Mariam Tatarashvili; Paata Dvaladze. Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands: Nomination Dossier (Report). Georgian Agency of Protected Areas.
  6. ^ "Mtirala National Park". Caucasus Nature Fund. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
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