Ochamchire

Ochamchire or Ochamchira (Georgian: ოჩამჩირე, [ɔtʃʰɑmtʃʰire] (listen); Abkhazian: Очамчыра, Ochamchyra; Russian: Очамчира, Ochamchira) is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast of Abkhazia,[1] Georgia, and a centre of an eponymous district.

Fountain in Ochamchire.
Ochamchire on the map.

According to the 1979 Soviet population census, Ochamchire had 18,700 residents. After the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict of 1992–93, Ochamchire experienced a significant population decline due to ethnic cleansing of Georgians. Most of the internally displaced persons affected by the conflict have yet to return to the city. Ochamchire lies along the left bank of the Ghalidzga River where it enters the sea. The city is located 53 kilometres (33 miles) southeast of the Abkhazian capital of Sukhumi.

Climate

Ochamchire's climate is humid subtropical, with mild winters and hot summers. The average annual temperature is 13.6 degrees Celsius. January's average temperature is 4.5 degrees Celsius while the average temperature in July is 23 degrees Celsius. Average annual precipitation is approximately 1,552 mm (61 in).

History

Ochamchire evolved as a town from a small maritime settlement, which was a scene of fighting between the Russians and Turkish-Abkhaz forces in 1877.[2]

The ancient Greek colony of Gyenos (Greek: Γυένος) is supposed to have located near Ochamchire, though the identification cannot be considered as definitive because of doubts as to the actual location and the very poor preservation of the archaeologic site itself.[3]

According to Itar Tass, in 2009, Russia planned to construct a new naval base for its Black Sea Fleet (as of 2009 based at Sevastopol) in Ochamchire.[4]

The former Georgian Soviet footballer Vitaly Daraselia was from Ochamchire.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Ochamchire is twinned with the following cities:

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See also

References
  1. Abkhazia is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Abkhazia and Georgia. The Republic of Abkhazia unilaterally declared independence on 23 July 1992, but Georgia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. Abkhazia has received formal recognition as an independent state from 7 out of 193 United Nations member states, 1 of which have subsequently withdrawn their recognition.
  2. Очемчиры (Ochemchiry) Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (1890-1906). Accessed on May 2, 2008.
  3. Mogens Herman, Hansen, Thomas Heine Nielsen (2003), An Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis, p. 953. Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-814099-1.
  4. Gorst, Isabel (2009-01-27). "Russia to relocate fleet to Abkhazia". Financial Times. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  5. "8 октября Бендеры отмечают 605-летие со Дня первого летописного упоминания о городе". Apsnypress. 8 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  • Georgian State (Soviet) Encyclopedia. 1983. Book 7. p. 623.

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