Geoheritage of Georgia: The Caucasus

Designed for geoscientists, conservation professionals, planners and advanced students, as well as interested visitors, Geoheritage of Georgia offers both a scientific foundation and a roadmap for celebrating and protecting Georgia’s geoheritage for future generations. This book presents the first integrated account of Georgia’s geological heritage at the scale of the whole country. Situated in the heart of the Arabia–Eurasia collision zone, Georgia compresses high peaks, active volcanoes, karst plateaus, deep river gorges, semi-deserts and Black Sea coasts into a remarkably small territory. Geoheritage of Georgia - The Caucasus shows how that collision-born complexity underpins exceptional geosites and landscapes, from the tower villages of Svaneti and the rock-cut city of Vardzia to dinosaur trackways, cave systems, natural freezers, placer goldfields and volcanic plateaus, while also shaping biodiversity, agriculture, sacred waters and cultural identity. Combining contributions from leading Georgian and international scientists, the book frames these sites within modern conservation tools, especially IUCN’s emerging Key Geoheritage Areas (KGAs) and the UNESCO Global Geoparks and World Heritage frameworks. It outlines a national KGA map, assesses candidate territories for future geoparks, and proposes practical pathways for geoheritage-based geotourism, education and community development. Designed for geoscientists, conservation professionals, planners and advanced students, as well as interested visitors, Geoheritage of Georgia offers both a scientific foundation and a roadmap for celebrating and protecting Georgia’s geoheritage for future generations.