Lagodekhi Nature Reserve

Governing body:Protected Areas Agency
Altitude: 450-3500 m.
Date of foundation: 1912
Area: 197.49 km²
From Tbilisi: 160 km / 2 hours 30 minutes.

The Lagodekhi National Nature Reserve and sanctuary located on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Range, is a state reserve in the municipality of Lagodekhi, Georgia. It was founded in 1912 by the Polish naturalist Ludwik Mlokosiewicz. It occupies 19,749 hectares, of which 12,346 hectares (72%) are occupied by forests, the remaining 5,322 hectares are alpine pastures. The large amplitude of heights (450-3500 m), sharply sloping terrain, deep gorges with rivers create very different and complex natural physical and geographical conditions that determine the diversity of vegetation. The forest belt (450-2300 m above sea level) with Georgian oaks, oriental beeches, the alpine belt (2300-3500 m above sea level) with meadows and deciduous trees are clearly depicted here. Above the alpine belt there is a subnival belt (3000 m above sea level) with strong meadow grass.

The reserve has about 1,500 species of flowering plants and is rich in endemic species (Julia Furisula, Mlokosevich’s Jordanasalam, Lagodekhi bile, etc.). 42 species of mammals live here: Eastern Caucasian goats, Caucasian red deer, European deer, Caucasian brown bears, Caucasian lynxes, wild boars, white and yellow martens, Transcaucasian badger, Caucasian forest cats and others.

Of the birds (120 species), the Caucasian black grouse and sparrow, large birds of prey and many other birds of prey, as well as 4 species of amphibians and 8 species of reptiles are noted. The reserve has a museum of flora and fauna and a weather station in the highlands.

Rivers Ninoskhevi, Lagodekhistskali, Shromishevi and Mitsimistskali< /strong>flow through the territory of the reserve. Here is located the glacial lake Hala-Hala, which has a depth of 14 meters.