Svaneti Range

Svaneti Range (Georgian: სვანეთის ქედი) is an 85 km long sub-mountain range of the Greater Caucasus, in the Svaneti region of Georgia, located south of the main Caucasus ridge in a west–east direction. [1]

Svaneti Range
View of Svipi, Tviberi and Lezgara from Kalashi
Highest point
Peak	Mount Laila
Elevation	4,009 m (13,153 ft)
Dimensions
Length	85 km (53 mi) W-E
Geography
Show map of Georgia Show map of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
Country	Georgia
Province	Svaneti
Range coordinates	42°54′N 42°46′E
Parent range	Caucasus Mountains
Borders on	Greater Caucasus

The Svaneti Range runs along the border between the regions of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti (North and South Svaneti) in the north of Georgia. It forms the watershed between the Enguri River (to the north and west) and the Tskhenistsqali (to the south). The right Tskhenistsqali tributary Cheledula separates the mountains from the further south Egrissi Mountains. The Svanetic Mountains reach a maximum altitude of 4009 m in the Laila. The ridge is partially glacier.

Geology

Svaneti Range is composed mainly of sedimentary ( mica, schist ) and partly of metamorphic rocks ( quartzite , slate ).

Vegetation

On the slopes grow subalpine and alpine vegetation. The slopes of the Svaneti Range at lower elevations are covered with forests of beech, spruce and fir.

Svaneti Range, seen from the hillside of Tetlinda. Peaks to the right: Lahili, Gvadaraši, at the left edge of Mekli.

References

1. Devdariani G., Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia , vol. 9, pages 310-311, 1985.