Inguri
Encyclopedia
The Inguri is a river in western Georgia
. It is 213 km long, originates in northeastern Svaneti
near the region of Racha
and plays an important role providing hydroelectric power to the area.
The river emerges from the high Caucasus
near the highest mountain in Georgia, Shkhara
, and winds through the mountain valleys to the northwest before turning southwest to empty into the Black Sea
near Zugdidi
.
Since the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict
(1992-1993), both Georgia and Abkhazia keep troops on the river; Russia
also keeps peacekeeping
troops. The only legal crossing-point is the 870 m-long Inguri Bridge, which was built by German prisoners of war
from 1944 until 1948. There are also a number of illegal connections across the river.
The river plays an important role in the Georgian energy production. In 1988 the Inguri Dam
was built at a height of 240 m. At 750 m across and 271.5 m high, it is the largest construction in the Caucasus. It has a capacity of 1.1 million cubic meters of water. The underground water works produces 4.5 million kilowatts of energy yearly, about 40% of the national energy production. The capacity is 1,300 megawatts.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. It is 213 km long, originates in northeastern Svaneti
Svaneti
Svaneti is a historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of the country. It is inhabited by the Svans, a geographic subgroup of the Georgians.- Geography :...
near the region of Racha
Racha
Racha is a highland area in western Georgia, located in the upper Rioni river valley and hemmed in by the Greater Caucasus mountains...
and plays an important role providing hydroelectric power to the area.
The river emerges from the high Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
near the highest mountain in Georgia, Shkhara
Shkhara
Shkhara , is the highest point in the nation of Georgia. Located in the Svaneti region along the Russian frontier, Shkhara lies north of the city of Kutaisi, Georgia's second largest city. The summit lies in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, to the south-east of Mount...
, and winds through the mountain valleys to the northwest before turning southwest to empty into the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
near Zugdidi
Zugdidi
Zugdidi is a city in the Western Georgian historical province of Samegrelo . It is situated in the north-west of that province. The city is located 318 kilometres west of Tbilisi, 30 km. from Black sea coast and 30 km. from Egrisi range. 100-110 metres above sea level. As of 2007, it had a...
.
Since the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict
Georgian-Abkhaz conflict
The Georgian–Abkhazian conflict refers to the ethnic conflict between Georgians and Abkhazians in Abkhazia, which is presently a de facto independent partially recognized republic...
(1992-1993), both Georgia and Abkhazia keep troops on the river; Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
also keeps peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
troops. The only legal crossing-point is the 870 m-long Inguri Bridge, which was built by German prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
from 1944 until 1948. There are also a number of illegal connections across the river.
The river plays an important role in the Georgian energy production. In 1988 the Inguri Dam
Inguri Dam
The Inguri Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Inguri River in Georgia. Currently it is the world's highest concrete arch dam with a height of . It is located north of the town Jvari...
was built at a height of 240 m. At 750 m across and 271.5 m high, it is the largest construction in the Caucasus. It has a capacity of 1.1 million cubic meters of water. The underground water works produces 4.5 million kilowatts of energy yearly, about 40% of the national energy production. The capacity is 1,300 megawatts.