Lagodekhi Protected Areas

Lagodekhi Protected Areas, also known as Lagodekhi National Park, is a pair of protected areas in the Kakheti district of Georgia: Lagodekhi Strict Nature Reserve and Lagodekhi Managed Nature Reserve (divided in 2003). The combined area of the two is 24,451 hectares (94.41 sq mi). The reserves are located in north-eastern Georgia on the southern slopes of the Caucasus and border on Azerbaijan and Dagestan. Lagodekhi preserves a variety of rare local flora and fauna and was originally protected in 1912, under the Russian Empire, the first nature preserve in Georgia. Their ecoregion is that of the Caucasus mixed forests.

Lagodekhi Protected Areas are in north-eastern Georgia, on the southern slopes of the Caucasus, bordering Azerbaijan and the Dagestan republic of Russia. They comprise 19,749 hectares (76.25 sq mi) (strict nature reserve) and 4,702 hectares (18.15 sq mi) (managed nature reserve), extending from 590 to 3,500 metres (1,940 to 11,480 ft) above sea level, including several gorges. The major rivers flowing through the reserve are the Ninoskhevi, Shromiskhevi, Lagodekhistskali and Matsimistskali; at the higher elevations there are glacial lakes, of which the largest is Black Cliff Lake, on the Russian border, with a depth of 14 metres (46 ft). There are also sulphur springs.

The bulk of the strict nature reserve is accessible only for research purposes; the managed nature reserve contains tourist facilities including five trails: to Grouse Waterfall, to Ninoskhevi Waterfall, to the 11th-century Machi (or Machistsikhe) Castle, to Black Rock Lake and a knowledge of nature trail; the Black Rock Route also crosses the strict nature reserve. An agreement between Azerbaijan and Georgia allows hikers to cross the border freely to and from the reserve.

The reserves extend from beech forests (broadleaf woodland dominated by Oriental beech) to the Alpine zone. Approximately 70% of the area is forested; the second and third most prominent species are European hornbeam and various species of maple. The forest includes a wide variety of plant species; reputedly almost two thirds of those found in the entire country; and the lowland parts have been compared to the warm temperate vegetation in the Black Sea region (locally called "subtropical"). Lagodekhi is also known for its animal life, and has been famous for its hunting. It is one of the major reserves for the East Caucasian tur and also has many chamois and red deer. Major predators include Eurasian lynx, grey wolf, brown bear, and the raptors bearded vulture, eastern imperial eagle, golden eagle and steppe eagle. Altogether 150 species of birds, 53 mammals, 5 amphibians, 12 reptiles, and 4 fish are found in the reserves; 26 of the plants and more than 40 of the animals are in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation listing of threatened species.

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