Ushguli
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Ushguli or Ushkuli (Georgian: უშგული) is a community of villages located at the head of the Enguri gorge in Upper Svaneti, Georgia. Ushguli comprises of four villages:[1]
Zhibiani (Georgian: ჟიბიანი) some 2100 m above sea level;
Chvibiani or Chubiani (Georgian: ჩვიბიანი);
Chazhashi or Chajashi (Georgian: ჩაჟაში);
Murqmeli (Georgian: მურყმელი).
The Ushguli villages contain buildings that are part of the UNESCO Heritage site of Upper Svaneti.[2]
Altitude claims for Ushguli villages vary from 2086 to 2200 metre and it is sometimes referred to as the highest village in Europe.[3]
It is located at the feet of Shkhara one of the higher Caucasian summits. About 70 families (about 200 people) live in the area and there is a small school. For 6 months of the year snow covers the whole area and often the road to Mestia is closed. Typical Svanetian protective towers are found throughout the village. The Ushguli Chapel located on a hilltop near the village dates back to the 12th century.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Svaneti and Its Inhabitants Roland Topchishvili, nplg.gov.ge
- ^ World Heritage List - Upper Svaneti 1993-10-28
- ^ DCP: 43 degrees north, 43 degrees east confluence.org, 'Ushguli is claimed to be the highest inhabited village in Europe and according to my GPS the village is at an elevation of 2086m', 2006-08-27
[edit] External links
