Geography
Abkhazia covers an area of about 8,600 km² at the western end of Georgia, on the north shore of the Black Sea. The Caucasus Mountains to the north and the northeast divide Abkhazia from Circassia. To the east, the region is bordered by Svaneti. To the southeast, Abkhazia is bounded by Samegrelo; and on the south and southwest by the Black Sea.
The region is extremely mountainous (nearly 75% is classified as mountains or foothills) and settlement is largely confined to the coast and a number of deep, well-watered valleys. The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range runs along the region's northern border. The Gagra, Bzyb, and Kodori Ranges branch off from the Main Caucasus Range. The highest peaks of Abkhazia are in the northeast and east (along the border with Svaneti) and several exceed 4,000 meters (13,123 ft) above sea level. The highest mountain is Dombai-Ulgen (4,046 m/13,274 ft). The climate is mild, which in the Soviet times caused it to become a popular holiday destination known as the "Georgian Riviera".
Read more about this topic: Geography Of Abkhazia
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