Abul-Samsari Range

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Abul-Samsari Range is a volcanic range in southern Georgia, 120km (75 miles) to the southwest of Tbilisi. It is a part of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains and rises above the Javakheti and Tsalka Plateaus. The Range itself is 40km (25 miles) long and runs north to south from the Ktsia to the Paravani River Gorges. The highest mountain is Didi Abuli at an elevation of 3,301 meters (10,827 feet) above sea level. Other notable peaks include Mt. Tavkvetili (2,583m/8,472ft), Shavnabada (2,929m/9,607ft), and Samsari (3,285m/10,774ft). Mount Samsari has a fairly large caldera, the floor of which is covered by the rocks from the mountain's last eruption. The slopes of the Abul-Samsari Range are mainly covered with alpine meadows and grasslands. Forests are less common and are usually found at the lowest elevations of the Range (below 1,900m/6,232ft above sea level). There are numerous small and medium-sized lakes in and around the Abul-Samsari Range.