Svaneti by Levan Urushadze
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See also Svaneti
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Svaneti is one of highland ancient provinces of Western Georgia (now Zemo Svaneti (the Upper Svaneti) is a part of the Region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti and Kvemo Svaneti (the lower Svaneti) is a part of the Region of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti). The inhabitants of Svaneti - Svans are ethnic Georgians (ethnographic group of the Georgian people), indigenous population of this province. Surrounding high mountains and peaks - the Tetnuldi, the Ushba, the Shkhara, the Aylama, the Rustaveli are rushing up to the sky like giant guards of Georgia. Here are lots of rapid mountain rivers. Here begins impetuous Enguri (or Inguri) and the largest Enguri Hydro-Elecric Power Station is also built here.
Famous Svanetian towers make the villages more attractive. Most of them are built in the 9th-12th centuries AD. The oldest towers dated the end of the 1st millennium BC. Christian (Georgian Orthodox) churches (10th-14th centuries) preserved brilliant samples of the Georgian material and spiritual culture (repousse icons, manuscripts, etc.).
There are two districts in Svaneti: Mestia (the Upper Svaneti) and Lentekhi (the Lower Svaneti).
Svaneti is famous for its minerals and medicinal mineral springs.
The Mountaineering is developed here. The well-known cliff-climbers received worldwide renown. The well-known mountaineer, "The Rock Tiger" Mikheil Khergiani was born here.
