Ushguli

Ushguli (Georgian: უშგული) is a community of four villages located at the head of the Enguri gorge in Svaneti, Georgia.[2] Recognized as the Upper Svaneti UNESCO World Heritage Site,[3] Ushguli is one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe.[4][5][6] Compared to somewhat more developed towns like Mestia, Ushguli isn't in an accessible location, which has preserved many of the villages' characteristics.[7]

Ushguli

უშგული
Ushguli
Ushguli
Location of Ushguli in Georgia
Ushguli
Ushguli (Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti)
Coordinates: 42.917797°N 43.015672°E / 42.917797; 43.015672
Country Georgia
MkhareSamegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
Population
 (2014)[1]
 • Total228
Time zoneUTC+4 (Georgian Time)
Official nameUpper Svaneti
CriteriaCultural: (iv)(v)
Reference709
Inscription1996 (20th session)
Area1.06 ha (2.6 acres)
Buffer zone19.16 ha (47.3 acres)
The historic region of Upper Svaneti in Georgia

Location and features

Ushguli is located at an altitude of 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) near the foot of Shkhara, one of the highest summits of the Greater Caucasus mountains. About 70 families (about 200 people) live in the area, enough to support a small school. The area is snow-covered for 6 months of the year, and often the road to Mestia is impassable.

Typical Svaneti defensive tower houses are found throughout the village. The Ushguli Chapel located on a hilltop near the village dates back to the 12th century.

The Mikhail Kalatozov silent film documentary Salt for Svanetia was filmed in Ushguli.

Constituent villages of Ushguli

 Zhibiani (Georgian: ჟიბიანი) some 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) above sea level;
 Chvibiani or Chubiani (Georgian: ჩვიბიანი);
 Chazhashi or Chajashi (Georgian: ჩაჟაში);
 Murqmeli (Georgian: მურყმელი).

See also

References
  1. "Population Census 2014". www.geostat.ge. National Statistics Office of Georgia. November 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  2. Svaneti and Its Inhabitants, Roland Topchishvili
  3. World Heritage List - Upper Svaneti, 1993-10-28
  4. 9 reasons to visit Georgia now, CNN, 17 May 2016
  5. Village Ushguli, Georgia, National Geographic, Retrieved: 7 March 2016
  6. Michael Spilling, Winnie Wong. Cultures of the World: Georgia. Marshall Cavendish: 2008, p. 10
  7. Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, 9 reasons to visit Georgia now, CNN, 17 May 2016
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