Batumi

Batumi
ბათუმი

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Batumi

Location of Batumi in Georgia

Coordinates: 41°38′45″N 41°38′30″E / 41.64583°N 41.64167°E

Country

Georgia

Autonomous republic

Adjara

Founded

8th century

City status

1866

Government

• Mayor

Giorgi Ermakov

Area

• Total

64.9 km² (25.1 sq mi)

Elevation

3 m (10 ft)

Population (2014)

• Total

152,839

• Density

2,400/km² (6,100/sq mi)

Time zone

Georgian Time (UTC+4)

Postal code

6000-6010

Area code(s)

(+995) 422

Website

Official website

Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი [bɑtʰumi]) is the second largest city of Georgia, located on the coast of the Black Sea in the country's southwest. Situated in a subtropical zone near the foot of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, Batumi is a popular tourist destination known for its varying weather–it is a bustling seaside resort during warm seasons, but can get entirely covered in snow during winter. Much of Batumi's economy revolves around tourism and gambling, but the city is also an important sea port and includes industries like shipbuilding, food processing and light manufacturing. Since 2010, Batumi has been transformed by the construction of modern high-rise buildings, as well as the restoration of classical 19th-century edifices lining its historic Old Town.

Batumi is located on the site of the ancient Greek colony in Colchis called Bathus or Bathys – derived from the Greek phrase βαθύς λιμεν bathus limen or βαθύς λιμήν bathys limin meaning "deep harbor". Under Hadrian (r. 117–138 AD), it was converted into a fortified Roman port and later deserted for the fortress of Petra founded in the time of Justinian I (r. 527–565). Garrisoned by the Roman-Byzantine forces, it was formally a possession of the kingdom of Lazica until being occupied briefly by the Arabs, who did not hold it; in the 9th century it formed part of the Bagratid monarchy of Tao-Klarjeti and at the close of the 10th century of the unified kingdom of Georgia which succeeded it.

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