Kintrishi Strict Nature Reserve

Did You Know?

• The nearby lake Sidzerdzali is outside the boundaries of the reserve.
• Surrounding mountains entrap humid air from the sea, providing high humidity.
• The reserve is located between the village of Tskhemvani (Tskhemlovana) and Khino Mountain in the Meskheti Range.

Geography

The Kintrishi Strict Nature Reserve sits within the larger Kintrishi Protected Areas, which also include a national park. It follows the Kintrishi River valley, from its source on Mount Khino down to the Black Sea at Kobuleti. Elevations range from 300 meters to alpine pastures at 2500 meters. The reserve’s borders touch the Kobuleti forest administration to the north, Shuakhevi Municipality to the east, Keda Municipality to the south, and Mtirala National Park to the southwest. High in the mountains, at 2200 meters, lies the small Tbikeli lake.

Biodiversity

Nestled within the Euxine-Colchic deciduous forests, Kintrishi Strict Nature Reserve spans an elevational range from lowland woods to alpine meadows. Its diverse habitats support over 900 plant species, including Oriental beech, Common hornbeam, and Caucasian fir, with 65 found nowhere else in the Caucasus. The reserve is a notable mayfly hotspot, hosting 34 species. Wildlife includes roughly 189 bird, 65 mammal, and 14 reptile species. Each autumn, more than one million raptors from 35 species funnel through this migratory bottleneck.