Shida Kartli, Administrative region in eastern Georgia
Shida Kartli is an administrative region in central Georgia that stretches across flat plains with mountainous areas rising toward the east. The landscape transitions gradually from lower fields to higher mountain terrain, creating varied geographical zones.
This region took its present administrative shape during the Soviet period. Parts of the north have been under South Ossetian control since the 1990s, an event that continues to affect the region's geopolitical situation.
The region is home to several ancient sites of significance, including the cave settlement of Uplistsikhe with structures carved directly into rock. Visitors today can explore these remains and see how people once lived within and beneath the stone.
Access and infrastructure vary between the more central areas and the more mountainous eastern sections. Visitors should expect different conditions depending on which parts they explore, as some areas are more remote than others.
The area is crossed by many rivers and streams that form a complex water system shaping the landscape. These waterways have influenced human settlement patterns for millennia.
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