Location Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia

Geographic coordinates 42 00 N, 43 30 E

Map references Commonwealth of Independent States

Area
total: 69,700 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries
total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km

Coastline 310 km

Maritime claims NA

Climate warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Terrain largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhida Lowland opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 m

Natural resources forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth

Land use
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 28% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 4,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards NA

Environment - current issues air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Desertification

NOTE: The information regarding Georgia on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Georgia Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Georgia Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.