Republic of Abkhazia, State with limited recognition in South Caucasus, eastern Black Sea coast.
The Republic of Abkhazia stretches along the Black Sea coast across an area with subtropical beaches and mountainous northern regions. The territory includes coastal towns and mountain valleys marked by uneven terrain and thick vegetation, forming a transition between sea level and high peaks.
Greek settlers founded Dioscurias in the 6th century BCE, which later became a Roman outpost named Sebastopolis on the Black Sea coast. After centuries under different rulers, incorporation into the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union followed, before conflict in the 1990s led to a unilateral declaration of independence.
The region preserves the Nart oral epics, while Abkhaz and Russian are spoken as official languages throughout the territory. Visitors encounter this bilingualism in daily life on street signs, in shops and during conversations with locals who often switch between both languages.
Financial assistance from Russia supports local infrastructure, with tourism from Russian visitors forming a substantial part of the economy. Travelers should be aware that this region is not widely recognized by the international community, which may affect border crossings and consular support.
The name Sukhumi comes from the Georgian word Tskhomi, while in Abkhaz the capital is called Aqwa, meaning stony seashore. These different names reflect the linguistic variety and the different historical layers woven together in the region.
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