Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
| Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park (ბორჯომ-ხარაგაულის ეროვნული პარკი) | |
| Protected area | |
 Borjomi forests
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| Country | Georgia |
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| State | Samtskhe-Javakheti |
| Coordinates | 41°51′N 43°10′E / 41.850°N 43.167°ECoordinates: 41°51′N 43°10′E / 41.850°N 43.167°E |
| Established | 1995 |
| IUCN category | II - National Park |
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Website: www |
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The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park (BKNP) (Georgian: ბორჯომ-ხარაგაულის ეროვნული პარკი, borjom-kharagaulis erovnuli parki) is a protected area in central Georgia, situated in the Lesser Caucasus, southwest to the nation's capital of Tbilisi. Its ecoregion is that of the Caucasus mixed forests.
One of the largest national parks in Georgia, it includes six administrative districts stretching from the resort of Borjomi to the town of Kharagauli. Together with adjacent Borjomi Nature Reserve, the total area is 851 square kilometres, i.e. more than 1 % of the total territory of Georgia. The park was founded in 1995 and officially inaugurated in 2001.
Its particular uniqueness is diversity of geographical and ecological zones, landscapes, historical monuments and rich flora and fauna. The park has rapidly developing tourist infrastructure.
The history of the park dates back to Medieval times when it was used primarily by the local aristocracy for hunting.
When Georgia lost its independence and became part of the Russian Empire, the Grand Duke Michael Nicolaievich was given the post of Governor General of Transcaucasia. He found the local beauty of the Borjomi park so impressive he decided to build his personal summer residence there.
Noticeable changes to the park came when the Grand Duke Michael restricted any lumbering or hunting without permission, thus laying the foundation for the park's future.
In 1995, the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park was endorsed and created with the support of the World Wildlife Fund and the German government, and was officially inaugurated in 2001.
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Wikipedia