Facts about Georgia

1. The Republic of Georgia is located in the Caucasus Mountains and borders the Black Sea.  Russia borders to the north, Azerbaijan in the south and east, and Armenia and Turkey in the south. 
   
2. The population of Georgia is approximately 4.6 million.
3. The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi.
4. Georgian Orthodox Christians make up 84% of the population.  It became an official religion in the 4th Century and Georgia was one of the first nations in the world to adopt Christianity in 337. 
5. In 1991, Georgia attained independence from the Soviet Union. 
6. Georgia has two breakaway regions: South Ossetia and Abkhazia.  In the early 1990s and in 2008, South Ossetia and Abkhazia fought with Georgia because they want to be independent. 
7. Georgians speak Georgian, a language that is a member of the Kartvelian Language Group and related to no other language on earth.  Georgian is the official language, but many Georgians also speak Russian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, and other smaller Caucasian languages. 
8. Only 1.5% of the population are ethnic Russians. Georgians make up 83.8% of the populations. Azeris make up 6.5% and Armenians make up 5.7% of the population. 
9. Georgia is making strides to become Westernized. It wants to join NATO and the European Union. 
10. In western Georgia, the climate is Mediterranean and sub-tropical with warm, humid summers and cool winters.  In the east, the climate is more arid with hot summers and colder winters.  At higher elevations, the climate is alpine with short, cool summers and long, snowy winters.
11. Georgia has some of the highest mountains in Europe with peaks reaching over 16,000 feet. The tallest peak is Mount Shkhara, with an altitude of 5,201 meters (17,059 ft). 
12. Legend has it that God tripped over the Caucasus Mountains and dropped his lunch over the region, giving it an excellent cuisine. There is a lack of processed foods and the fruits, vegetables, and spices are incredibly fresh. The cost of it is also very cheap with the ability to buy produce at a fraction of what you could buy in the West. 
13. Georgians are well known for their warm hospitality.  They consider guests a blessing.  
14. The currency of Georgia is the Lari. 
15. Georgia is a representative democracy, structured as a secular, unitary, presidential republic.
16. There are many ancient cave cities in Georgia. 
17. There are four UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites in Georgia.
18. The Jewish community that is present in Georgia is one of the oldest in the world. 
19. In Greek mythology, the Caucasus was one of the pillars of the world.  It is said that after presenting humans with the gift of fire, Prometheus (or Amirani in Georgian) was chained to a mountain there by Zeus as punishment. 
20. Georgia and the Caucasus are home to many important natural mineral and energy resources such as gold, copper, iron, oil, lead, and much more.