Shiraki Plain

The Shiraki (Georgian: შირაქის ვაკე, shirak'is vake) is a plain on the Iori Plateau in Georgia, an interfluve between the river valleys of the Iori in the south and the Alazani in the north; its steep slopes in the east border on Mingachevir reservoir in Azerbaijan, and in the west it is limited by the Tsiv-Gombori Range.

The Shiraki Plain consists of steppes, where grain crops are cultivated and livestock is grazed in the winter. The region also has some petroleum deposits and prehistoric archaeological sites.

The Shiraki is a flat lowland area at the elevation of 500 metres (1,600 ft) to 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level, 35 kilometres (22 mi) in length and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) in width. It is a syncline formation, with Quaternary deposits filling the folds and rich in artesian waters. The climate in the area is moderate continental, with the average annual temperature of 10°C, -3.8°C in January and 22.8°C in July. The annual precipitation is low and unevenly distributed, with the average of 490 mm. The normal flora of the Shiraki Plain is that of a steppe. Currently, most of the area is used as farmlands, primarily for cereals, and is known as Georgia's breadbasket.

The Shiraki Plain is sometimes divided into the northern Greater Shiraki (დიდი შირაქის ვაკე, didi shirak'is vake) and southern Lesser Shiraki (პატარა შირაქის ვაკე, patara shirak'is vake), separated by a low, steep ridge. Geographically, the plain falls within the boundaries of the Dedoplistsqaro Municipality in Georgia's easternmost region of Kakheti and adjoins the Vashlovani National Park. While the park is administered by the Dedoplistsqaro Municipality, the Shiraki's largest portion is under the jurisdiction of the Akhmeta Municipality, not contiguous with the Shiraki plain and located further north in Kakheti. This situation reflects the fact that the Shiraki steppe has been used, since the 17th century, as winter pastures by shepherds from Akhmeta's Tush community, traditionally engaged in transhumant lifestyle of sheep farming. Residential infrastructure is largely absent on the pastures. There are only livestock farms. The whole distance from the areas of the Tush summertime residence to the Shiraki winter pastures is about 200 kilometres (120 mi) and involves crossing of Georgia's highest pass, the Abano, at 2,960 metres (9,710 ft) above sea level.

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