Zestafoni Region   

Zestafoni Region Communities and Villages

Town of Zestafoni
Small Town of Shorapani
Boslevi Community
Beghlevi
Gamoghma Boslevi
Gaghma Boslevi
Marjvena (Right) Rkvia
Martskhena (Left) Rkvia
Didtsifela
Dilikauri Community
Dilikauri
Kveletubani
Zovreti Community
Zovreti
Ilemi Community
Kveda Ilemi
Zeda Ilemi
Kvaliti Community
Shua Kvaliti
Kveda Kvaliti
Kldeeti Community
Zeda Kldeeti
Kinoti
Tabakini
Kveda Kldeeti
Alaverdi
Mtskeristsikhe
Tvrini
Meore Sviri Community
Meore Sviri
Akhali Sviri
Pirveli Sviri Community
Pirveli Sviri
Rodinauli Community
Rodinauli
Svetmaghali
Tskhentaro
Ajameti
Zeda Sakara Community
Zeda Sakara
Beghlevi
Phuti Community
Phuti
Kveda Sazano Community
Kveda Sazano
Tklapivake
Shimshilakedi
Kveda Sakara Community
Kveda Sakara
Argevta
Chalatke
Sanakhshire Community
Sanakhshire
Martotubani
Kveda tsiplavake
Zeda Tsiplavake
Pirveli Maisi
Shrosha Community
Shrosha
Amsaisi
satsable
Kveda Satsumbo
Dzirula Community
Dzirula
Didi Gantiadi
Patara Gantiadi
Ajara
Vashpariani
Leladziseuli
Ghverki
Zeda Tseva
Kveda Tseva
Tskhratskaro Community
Tskhratskaro
Zeda Kvaliti
Dzlour-Daneti

The region is located in the eastern section of the Colkheti lowlands. After 1917, it became connected with the Shorapani District of Kutaisi Province. According to the administrative division of the Georgian SSR of 1930, it was separated as an independent territory. To the east and northeast it borders Kharagauli and Chiatura Regions, to the north and to the west – Terjola Region, and to the southwest – Baghdati Region.
The region area is 423,7km2. The administrative center is town of Zestafoni. The region covers one town, one small town (Shorapani), 17 village communities, and 58 villages.  As of 2006, 76,208 people live in the Zestafoni Region, most of who are ethnic Georgians. 
Relief. The territory of Zestafoni Region consists of 4 orographic units: Sections of the Colchian Lowlands are located on both sides of the Kvirila River, from the Ajameti Station (in the west) up to the town of Zestafoni height 90-200m in the south and, partially, in the east – the zone of hillocks with 200-500m height; the eastern part is covered with south-west section of the Imereti Plateau; in the south there is a low watershed range of the Kvirila and the Sakraula Rivers (peaks: Sapishlistavi – 1088m, Kvitsnari – 1013m), the northern slope of which belongs to Zestafoni Region; the lowland is built with wide accumulated terraces of the Kvirila River. The relief is further divided with canyons and gorges. The hilly zone consists of oligocenic and miocenic epoch clays, sandstones and Marly. The surface is divided with the tributaries of the Kvirila River. The slopes are impacted by landslides. The Plateau is developed on the crystal massif of the Dzirula River, which is located on the right side of this river up to where the Dzusa River starts.
Within the frames of the region the plateau consists of crystal shales, gneiss and granitoid of the pre-Cambrian and Paleozoic Ages.  One can see bare volcanogenic and sediment rocks, porphyry and tuff in the southern section of the plateau. The surface of the crystal massifs and Jurassic sediments are divided with 250-300m deep narrow rocky gorges. The watershed range of the Kvirila and the Sakraula Rivers mostly consists of the wrinkled eocenic tuff and marly. The northern slope of the range is rather steep and the depth varies from 200m to 400m.
Climate. In Zestafoni Region lowland zone has a humid subtropical climate. The winters are moderately cold and the summers comparatively dry and hot. The average annual temperature is 14oC, in January – 3,7oC– 4,3oC, and in August – 23,6oC- 23,9oC. The absolute minimum is -20oC and the absolute maximum 42oC. The annual precipitation is 1190mm. In the foothills and low-mountainous zone the air temperature is lower and precipitation is abundant. Eastern and western winds are dominant in the region. Mostly here blows eastern wind and sometimes sea breezes reach Zestafoni.
Inner Waters. The region is rich with rivers, among which the main ones are: the Kvirila, the Dzirula, the Cholaburi, and the Chkherimela Rivers, and their tributaries. Inundations of the rivers take place in spring and large water flows occur during summer and autumn. The rivers are recharged with rainfall, snowmelt and ground water movement.
Flora. Colchian forest covers the lowlands and hilly zone. Hornbeam, oak, beech, chestnut, alder-tree, pterecarya, and many others grow in abundance throughout this forest type. The sub-forests consist of perennial (ilex, cherry-laurel) and leaf-falling (nuts, hawthorn, azalea, medlar) bushes.  Of the many liana species blackberries, plush, and many others are the most commonly found here. The forest in the lowland is comparatively humid and rich with lianas. On the hills the woods are mesophyllic, with fewer lianas but plenty of evergreen species.
In some places of the forests, relict zelkova still grows. In the lowlands and the hilly zone sections of the forest area have been reduced. The forests are well preserved along the watershed range of the Kvirila and the Sakraula Rivers. Here mostly grow beech, maple, lime-tree, and Imeretian oak; the sub-woods are created with cherry laurel, ilex, bilberry, and many others. Meadows have replaced areas that were earlier covered with trees and other forest vegetation.
Fauna.  Within the forests, the following lowland and forest species reside: wolf, fox, jackal, badger, rabbit, hedgehog, and mole.  Among the birds there are: sky lark, raven, Colchian tomtit, hoopoe, quail, and many others.  Reptiles include snakes, lizards, and others.
Natural Resources:
-Collecting sand and gravel in the Kvirila River bed;
-Mining granite deposits in the village of Zeda Sakara;
-Mining pegmatite deposits in Shrosha-Sazano;
-Mining inert materials in the Kvirila River Valley;
-The Sviri deposits of Marble-like limestone (to be used as decorative material and road metal), supply – 534,000 m3;
-the Sakasria deposits of Marble-like limestone (used for decoration and as road metal), supply – 3,2 mln.m3;
-Red Marble deposit of Shrosha;
-Brick clay deposit of Sazano;
-Mining marble-like limestone deposits in “Sakapria” and Tsiplavake;
-Brick clay deposit of Argveti – 160,000 m3;
-Brick clay deposit of Boslevi – 870,000 m3;
-Spongolith deposit of Ajameti – 16,0mln.m3;
-Large deposits of fireproof clays of Shrosha – with prognosis 1 mln. Tons;
-Mining granite deposits of “Nichaba”.
Economics. In Zestafoni Region both industrial and agricultural spheres are developed. Traditionally the key industrial branches in Zestafoni are ferrous metallurgy, electric technical and food product industry. The Zestafoni Ferroalloy Plant, the largest enterprise of the country, which operates on the basis of the raw manganese from Chiatura, covers 6% on the world market with the capacity of its production. After WWII in Zestafoni, two electric technical plants were established – “Sakkabeli” (in town of Zestafoni), and “Electroelementi” (in Shorapani), the production of which was consumed throughout Georgia and beyond its borders. At present “Sakkabeli” is slowly learning to find its place in the ever-expanding world of globalization. This plant produces various types of the high quality aluminum and copper cables, and bare wire.
During the Soviet period, the Dzirula Fireproof Product Plant was very famous, which was integral Shrosha fireproof clay deposit and mainly served the glassware plants. In Shrosha they extracted red marble. A large sewing enterprise operated in Zestafoni, two wine-producing plants (ordinary, brand and strong wines), the first-stage grape processing plants of Zestafoni, Vachevi, Argveti, Pirveli Sviri, Meore Sviri, Sazano, and Kvaliti, a fruit juice production factory, and the food product enterprises of local importance. Today a big part of these enterprises do not operate any more.
The suitable ground and climatic conditions provide the development of the main branch of agriculture in the region – viticulture. Zestafoni may be considered as one of the first regions in Georgia with highly developed viticulture. The total area of vineyards is 5,000 hectares. The main varieties of the grapes here are Tsolikouri and Tsitska. The Sakara Viticulture and Winemaking Scientific-Research Station has a great share in developing viticulture in Zestafoni Region. About 80% of the village farmland is used for viticulture. The main cereal grown here is maize and vegetables are also grown in abundance along with many other fruit producing species. Animal husbandry is also developed in the region, particularly – cattle breeding and swine production. During the last period sheep breeding was developed stronger - local residents started to raise Imeretian sheep, which are famous for its best breed.
The Priority Directions:
-Ferroalloy industry. After the privatization of the ferroalloy plant it has become possible to increase the fiscal and social-economic effect of the enterprise;
-Using byproducts of previously processed silicon-manganese in the region for construction and other purposes;
-Producing different types of aluminum and copper cables, and bare wires. For this purpose there exists a J/S company “Sakkabeli”, which has great experience and rich traditions;
-Developing the viticulture and wine-making spheres, for what in the region there are appropriate resources and enterprises (wine plants, Sakara Wine Cellar);
-Animal Husbandry.
Tourism: Zestafoni is the agrarian region of Imereti, which is distinguished with its beautiful nature and villages, developed viticulture and animal husbandry. The geographic location of Zestafoni conditioned its special role during all the epochs of Georgia’s history.