Georgia’s mountain wilderness Georgia’s mountain wilderness FEATURE 09/15/2010

Georgia’s mountain wilderness

FEATURE

09/15/2010
MESTIA — High in the Caucasus Mountains, a wild landscape of glacier-capped peaks, forested valleys and villages huddled around medieval stone towers has been locked away for centuries.

But Georgia’s Upper Svaneti region — one of the highest and most remote settlements in Europe — is finally opening up to the outside world.

Home to only 14,000 persons, Upper Svaneti is a relic of Georgia’s ancient culture, a living museum where the locals speak a language that broke off from Georgian 3,000 years ago.

Getting to the regional capital Mestia, a village of 2,500 located 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level, currently involves a harrowing half-day drive along a rough road that winds around steep cliffs.

Now, in a bid to attract tourists and develop the region’s economy

, Georgia’s government has launched a major programme to improve transport links to Svaneti, spending millions of dollars (euros) to refurbish roads and this summer announcing plans for a new airport in Mestia..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100915com5.html