Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park

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The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park (BKNP) (Georgian: ბორჯომ-ხარაგაულის ეროვნული პარკი, borjom-kharagaulis erovnuli parki) is a national park in central Georgia, situated in the Lesser Caucasus, southwest to the nation’s capital of Tbilisi.

One of the largest national parks in Europe, it includes 6 administrative districts stretching from the resort of Borjomi to the town of Kharagauli. The total area of the park is 5, 3 thousand square kilometers, i.e., 7,6% of the total territory of Georgia. The park was founded in 1995 and officially inaugurated in 2001.

Its particular uniqueness is diversity of geographical and ecological zones, landscapes, historical monuments and rich flora and fauna. The park has rapidly developing tourist infrastructure.

[edit] History

The history of the park dates back to Medieval times when it was used primarily by the local aristocracy for hunting.

When Georgia lost it's independence and became part of the Russian Empire, the Grand Duke Michael Nicolaievich was given the post of Governor General of Transcaucasia. He found the local beauty of the Borjomi park so impressive he decided to build his personal summer residence there.

Noticeable changes to the park came when the Grand Duke Michael restricted any lumbering or hunting without permission, thus laying the foundation for the park's future.

In 1995, the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park was endorsed and created with the support of the World Wildlife Fund and the German government, and was officially inaugurated in 2001.