Gori, Georgia

Gori გორი
City
From top: Town Hall Gogebashvili Garden and Gori Fortress, Gori Cathedral, FC Dila Stadium, Joseph Stalin Museum, Panoramic view to Gori
Flag Seal
Gori Show map of Shida Kartli Gori Show map of Georgia (country) Location of Gori in Georgia
Coordinates: 41°58′0″N 44°06′0″E / 41.96667°N 44.10000°E / 41.96667; 44.10000
Country	Georgia
Region	Shida Kartli
Area
• Total	16.85 km2 (6.51 sq mi)
Elevation	588 m (1,929 ft)
Population (2014)
• Total	48,143
• Density	2,857/km2 (7,400/sq mi)
Time zone	Georgian Time (UTC+4)
Climate	Cfb
Website	http://www.gori.gov.ge/

Gori (Georgian: გორი [ɡɔri]) is a city in eastern Georgia, which serves as the regional capital of Shida Kartli and the centre of the homonymous administrative district. The name is from Georgian gora (გორა), that is, "heap", or "hill".

Gori was an important military stronghold in the Middle Ages and maintains a strategic importance due to its location on the principal highway connecting eastern and western parts of Georgia. In the course of its history, Gori has been invaded by the armies of regional powers several times. The city was occupied by Russian troops during the 2008 Russia–Georgia war.

Gori is also known as the birthplace of the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, ballistic missile designer Alexander Nadiradze and philosopher Merab Mamardashvili.

Gori is located 86 kilometers (53 mi) west of Georgia's capital Tbilisi, at the confluence of the rivers Mtkvari and Greater Liakhvi, 588 meters (1,929 ft) above sea level. The climate is transitional from moderately warm steppe to moderately humid. Summer is usually hot. The average annual temperature is 10.6 °C (51.1 °F), minimal in January (−1.0 °C or 30.2 °F) and maximal in July and August (21.4 °C or 70.5 °F). The maximum precipitation falls in May (76 mm or 3.0 in) and minimum in February (34 mm or 1.3 in). Precipitation here averages 603 mm.