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Tusheti National Park (also know as ყაზბეგის ეროვნული პარკი in Georgian) is a 1,446.2 km²
park situated in the north of Georgia, just in the border with Russia (in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania). The park is located in the north of the region Mtskheta-Mtianeti and is a popular touristic destination in Georgia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bats_people#The_decline_of_the_Bats/Tsova-Tush_language
How do I arrive to Tusheti National Park?
Kazbegi National Park isn't bad communicated because it's close to the road that connects Georgia and Russia.
- Train: there are slow trains that links Tbilisi and Kars (Turkey) that stop in Akhalkalaki.
- Bus: there are marshrutkas departing from Ninotsminda's bus station to destinations such as Akhalkalaki or Akhaltsikhe. From Akhalkalaki there are also marshrutkas to Akhaltsikhe (aprox. 3 hours), Tbilisi (aprox. 4 hours) or Gymri in Armenia.
- Car: Mtirala National Park can be reached from places such as Kobuleti (aprox. 50 minutes), Batumi (aprox. 55 minutes), Ozurgeti (aprox. 1 hour 10 minutes), Poti (aprox. 1 hour 20 minutes) in the Kolkheti National Park, Machakhela National Park (aprox. 1 hour 30 minutes) and Kintrishi National Park (aprox. 1 hour 50 minutes).
History
The
national park is aimed at the conservation of the natural situation,
but projects are also being carried out in the field of drinking water
supply, energy, livestock farming, the sale of local products and
tourism. The area contains five of the eight largest lakes in the
country and further includes grasslands on mountain slopes. The
Javakheti National Park was designated in 2011, part of a transnational
protected area (joining Lake Arpi National Park in Armenia). The visitor
and administration building of the Javakheti National Park
(Akhalkalaki) was built and financed with the support of WWF and
Germany.
What can I visit in Tusheti National Park?
Kazbegi National Park is a nice place to explore the volcanic Javakheti Plateau and its trails. Now it will be explained what to do in the park according to
the town or village where they are or the nearest one:
- Stepantsminda (სტეფანწმინდა in Georgian, Степанцминда in Russian, formerly Kazbegi): 1,326 inhabitants small town by river Terek in the north of region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti, close to border with Russia. The town is the capital of the historical-geographic area of Khevi.
- St. Sarki Armenian Orthodox Church: simple church built in 1884 in dark stones.
- Monument of the Great Patriotic War: monument from Soviet times that conmemorates the victory of the Soviet Union in WW2. The text and its names are written in Armenian.
- Next to Ninotsminda there's Khanchali Managed Reserve, one of the reserves in the park that is located around Khanchali Lake. This wetland designated as Ramsar site provides habitat to many bird in summer (like the long-legged buzzard or the green warbler), and in winter it's covered with ice.
- Another interesting activity here is taking Tiger Canyon Trail
(12.3 km). This trail follows the eastern ridge of the Tiger Canyon and
ends with a panoramic view. This place has its name because of the
landscape around it, which looks like a tiger stripe. The trail can be
extended in the direction of the mountain, where the border of three
countries meets (Georgia-Armenia-Turkey).
- St. Sarki Armenian Orthodox Church: simple church built in 1884 in dark stones.
- Going 12 km from Ninotsminda it can be found Gorelovka
(გორელოვკა in Georgian, Գորելովկա in Armenian), 1,165 inhabitants. It
was founded by Doukhobors, a spiritual Christian religious group of
Russian origin (although most of them left Gorelovka in the 1990s).
Close to this town it's located Bughdasheni Managed Reserve, a protected area that protects the mostly swampy Bugdasheni Lake.
Its ecosystem is undergoing restoration (rich in fish, including trout,
and part of the year to many species of migratory birds) and has been
designated as a Ramsar site in 2020. It's possible to have a small walk
around it, taking Bughdasheni Lake Trail (3 km). Not far from here is Madatapa Managed Reserve around Madatapa Lake. It's one of the most important sites in Georgia for breeding and staging waterbirds (like the Dalmatian pelican).
- Another of the reserves within the national park is Sulda Managed Reserve, that protects some marsh wetlands. The visitor can take the nice Sulda Wetlands Trail (5 km), a short hike where observing birds or riding horses that ends at the swamp.
- The largest part of the national park is situated around Kartsakhi Lake
(Lake Aktaş in Turkish), an alkaline lake that is the 2nd largest lake
in Georgia (in the international border between Georgia and Turkey).
During the rainy season its excess water discharges to the river Kura.
The area around it is protected by Kartsakhi Managed Reserve. To discover a bit more the nature of the lake and all its flora and fauna, it's highly advisable to take Kartsakhi Lake Trail (6.9 km). In the village of Kartsakhi (კარწახი in Georgian, Կարծախ in Armenian), 776 inhabitants, it's located Jivani House-Museum
(10:30-17 Tue-Sun), a museum where the Armenian poet Jivani (regarded
as the greatest Armenian ashugh of the 19th century) was born. Close to
it, Mineskh Forest is located (one of the few forests in the area).
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| Pankisi Gorge |
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