Lagodekhi ( ka, ლაგოდეხის მუნიციპალიტეტი) is the administrative-territorial unit in Eastern

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, in the Kakheti region. It is bordered by the Republic of

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of t ...

to the east,

Kvareli Municipality Qvareli ( ka, ყვარლის მუნიციპალიტეტი) is an administrative-territorial unit in eastern Georgia, in the northeastern part of the Kakheti region. Until 1917, the territory of Qvareli Municipality was include ...

to the west, the Autonomous Republic of Dagestan to the north, and

Sighnaghi Signagi or Sighnaghi ( ka, სიღნაღი) is a town in Georgia's easternmost region of Kakheti and the administrative center of the Signagi Municipality. Although it is one of Georgia's smallest towns, Signagi serves as a popular touris ...

and

Gurjaani Gurjaani ( ka, გურჯაანი) is a town in Kakheti, a region in eastern Georgia, and the seat of the Gurjaani Municipality. It is located in the Alazani River Plain, at an elevation of 415 m above sea level. Gurjaani is first recorded ...

municipalities to the south. The administrative center of the municipality is

Lagodekhi Lagodekhi ( ka, ლაგოდეხი) is a town, located at the foot of the Greater Caucasus mountains between the rivers Lagodekhiskhevi and Shromiskhevi, in the historical region of Hereti (now part of Kakheti). Lagodekhi has a number of ...

History

The territory of Lagodekhi municipality was included in Sighnaghi Mazra of Tbilisi province until 1917. Since 1921 it has been the administrative-territorial division of Sighnaghi Mazra in the Georgian SSR and since 1930 it has become an independent district. It has been called Lagodekhi Municipality since 2006. The name Lagodekhi is first mentioned in the Juansher Juansheriani Chronicle - History and life of King Vakhtang Gorgasali which confirms the toponym Lakuast or Lakvast (Lakva means a watery place according to Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani).

Administrative divisions and population

Lagodekhi Managed Reserve (Photo by Peretz Partensky, 2009) (2)

As of January 1, 2021, the population of Lagodekhi Municipality is 41.2 thousand people. 5.7 thousand live in urban areas and 35.4 thousand in rural areas. Lagodekhi Municipality is a group of settlements that have administrative boundaries and an administrative center - the city of Lagodekhi. Lagodekhi Municipality has an elected representative Assembly (Sakrebulo) and an executive body (City Hall), a registered population, own property, budget, and revenues. The municipality is a legal entity of public law. There are 15 administrative units in the municipality. In addition to Lagodekhi, there are 67 settlements there: * Administrative unit – City of

* Administrative unit - Areshperani (including Zemo Bolkvi, Kevkhiani, Kvemo Bolkvi, Khoshatiani) * Administrative unit - Apeni (including , Gvimriani, Zemo Nashovari, Onanauri, Phodaani, Kvemo Nashovari, Chabukiani) * Administrative unit - Baisubani (including Zemo Mskhalgori, Patara Gori, Kvemo Mskhalgori) * Administrative unit - Giorgeti (including Gujareti, Verkhvis Mindori, Lapniani, Pichkhisbogiri) * Administrative unit - Vardisubani (including Mshvidobiani, Sakobo, Svideba) * Administrative unit -

Kabali ''Kabali'' is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by Pa. Ranjith and produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu. The film stars Rajinikanth in the titular role, with Radhika Apte, Sai Dhanshika, Winston Chao, Kishore, Dines ...

(including Ganjala, , Karajala) * Administrative unit - Kartubani (including Bolokiani, Naendrovali, Natsiskvilari) * Administrative unit - Leliani (including , Beburiani, Meore Leliani, Mirskiseuli, Namesrali, Qalqva) *Administrative unit - Matsimi (including Rachisubani) * Administrative unit - Ninigori (including Ganatleba, , Zemo Gurgeniani, Zemo Khiza, Kvemo Gurgeniani, Khizabavra) * Administrative unit - Phona (including , Zemo Phona, Kvemo Phona, Zemo Khechili, Kvemo Khechili) * Administrative unit - Shroma (including Kavshiri) * Administrative unit - Tsodniskari (including Davitiani,

Tela Tela is a town, with a population of 38,030 (2020 calculation), and a municipality in Honduras on the northern Caribbean coast. It is located in the department of Atlantida. History Colonial era Tela was founded by the Spanish conquistador ...

, Sheerteba, Chaduniani, Tsiplistskaro) *Administrative unit - Chiauri (including Eretiskari,

Tamariani Tamariani (russian: Тамариани) is a rural locality (a '' selo'') in Dzheyrakhsky District of the Republic of Ingushetia, Russia. Tamariani is one of the 6 rural localities constituting Dzheyrakh rural settlement. Tamariani has only one ...

, Tsitelgori).

Geography

The territory of Lagodekhi municipality belongs to a moderately humid subtropical climate. The area is characterized by relatively cold winters and hot summers. The average annual temperature is 13 °C. Annual precipitation ranges from 650 mm to 1080 mm. Hail and drought are typical for the local climate. The mountainous parts have a moderately humid climate, with cold winters and cool summers, with an annual rainfall of 1200–1800 mm.პროგრამა — საქართველოს რეგიონებში კლიმატის ცვლილებისა და ზემოქმედების შერბილების ზომების ინსტიტუციონალიზაცია
/ref> Lagodekhi municipality is rich in surface and

groundwater Groundwater is the water present beneath Earth's surface in rock and soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. About 30 percent of all readily available freshwater in the world is groundwater. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated ...

. The main hydrographic network is formed by the

Alazani The Alazani ( ka, ალაზანი, az, Qanıx) is a river that flows through the Caucasus. It is the main tributary of the Kura in eastern Georgia, and flows for . Part of its path forms the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan, before i ...

River, which flows on the border of Gurjaani and Sighnaghi municipalities. Kabali, Matsimistskali, Lagodekhistskali, Areshi, and Apeniskhevi are the other main rivers of the municipality.

Politics

Lagodekhi Municipal Assembly (

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

: ლაგოდეხის საკრებულო) is a representative body in Lagodekhi Municipality. currently consisting of 30 members. The council is assembles into session regularly, to consider subject matters such as code changes, utilities, taxes, Municipal budget, oversight of Municipal government and more. Municipal Assembly and Mayor are elected every four year. The last election was held in October 2021.

Education

There are 28 public schools and 31 pre-schools in Lagodekhi municipality. The number of school students is 6235, and the number of children in pre-schools is 1513. There are 5 libraries in Lagodekhi Municipality. Namely: 1 Central

Library A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vir ...

and 4 rural libraries (villages of Vardisubani, Giorgeti, Kartubani, and Leliani).ლაგოდეხის მუნიციპალიტეტის მერია, წერილი N92-922126641, 23/09/2021 There is a branch of Aisi Public College in the village of Shroma, Lagodekhi Municipality. The Union of Art Schools of Lagodekhi Municipality unites 4 music schools and 1 art school: Lagodekhi Art School, Apeni village Art School, Leliani village Art School, Vardisubani village Art School, and Lagodekhi Painting School.

Culture

There is a People's Drama

Theater Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

, a museum, a Children's Theater, a People's Puppet Theater, a folk ensemble Graali, a choreographic ensemble Hereti, a choreographic ensemble Lakvasta, a choreographic ensemble Ilieli. The exhibition hall of Lagodekhi Protected Areas is located in the city of Lagodekhi.

Festivals and public holidays

Sports

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin (1)

The following sports complexes are working under the Center for Culture, Sports and Youth Development of Lagodekhi Municipality: * Sports complex located at 12 Zakatla St., Lagodekhi * Rani sports ground on St. Nino Street, Lagodekhi * Sports complex located in the village of Chabukiani, Lagodekhi Municipality * Field with the artificial surface on Zakatala Street, Lagodekhi * Field with the artificial surface on Kudgori Street, Lagodekhi * Field with the artificial surface on Rustaveli lane, Lagodekhi * Sports complex located in Tsodniskari Village, Lagodekhi Municipality.

Tourism

Visitors interested in ecotourism, adventure, and cultural tourism often visit Lagodekhi municipality. According to the statistical information of the Agency of Protected Areas, as of August 2021, the number of visitors was 3432; 6079 visitors were registered in 2020, 59,761 visitors-in 2019. 57,472 people visited Lagodekhi protected areas in 2018. There are no tourist information centers in Lagodekhi Municipality, although it is possible to determine the desired tourist routes together with the Lagodekhi Protected Areas Administration.

Economy

The revenues of the municipality are provided by

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people t ...

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mor ...

, trade, and production development, including local revenues and equalization transfers. The leading fields are agriculture, including

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...

growing, production of grain and essential oil crops, viticulture, fruit growing, horticulture, and animal husbandry. There are tobacco fermentation, wine, cheese, and butter factories. Small enterprises of other profiles also work in the municipality. Lagodekhi-Zakatala road of international importance passes through the territory of the municipality, where the Lagodekhi customs is located.

Historical landmarks and sightseeing

The church of St. Theodore in the village of Leliani, built in the XI-XII centuries, stands out from the architectural monuments of Lagodekhi Municipality. So-called Leliani treasure is found in the village, in the 20s of the last century. Other historical monuments are Poni, Areshperan, and Khoshat churches.

Lagodekhi Protected Areas

Lagodekhi Protected Areas include Lagodekhi Nature Reserve (19755 ha) and Managed Reserve (4500 ha). At present, there are five tourist trails in managed reserve of Lagodekhi Protected Areas: Grouse waterfall, Ninoskhevi waterfall, Machi castle, Black Rock Lake, and nature interpretation trail. The central entrance of Lagodekhi Protected Areas is integrated into administrative and visitor complexes. Exposition and exhibition halls are arranged in the administrative building, where visitors have the opportunity to become familiar with the specifics of Lagodekhi protected areas, get information about existing tariffs, safety rules, and choose a desirable route from existing tourist trails with appropriate services.ლაგოდეხის დაცული ტერიტორიების ადმინისტრაცია
/ref>

Lagodekhi Local Museum

The museum was founded in 1975. The fund of the museum mainly consists of the materials obtained as a result of archeological excavations in Old Hereti and the surrounding area: stone, bronze, various items of clay, jewelry, work tools, numismatics; A little number of ethnographic and photographic materials of the region are also presented there.

Notable people

Twin towns

* Viļāni Municipality, Latvia *

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, Poland

References

External links

Districts of Georgia
Statoids.com {{Coord, 41, 49, N, 46, 17, E, region:GE_type:adm2nd_source:kolossus-itwiki, display=title Municipalities of Kakheti