Table 1. List of caves with their characteristics, and administrative and geographic location in Georgia. Cave characteristics according to Tatashidze et al. (2009) and Tsikarishvili & Bolashvili (2013). Names of tourist caves are bolded. Abbreviations: AK = Askhi karst massif; Ch = Chiatura; EE = entrance elevation; et = eutrophic; IM = Imereti; Kg = Kharagauli; Kh = Khoni; Ma = Martvili; mt = mesotrophic; OP = Odishi Plateau; ot = oligotrophic; SAM = Samegrelo; ST = Sataplia-Tskaltubo; Ts = Tskaltubo; X = site of air temperature measurements in caves is unclear; Y = elevation between the entrance and the deepest site of the cave; ZI = Zemo-Imereti Plateau; * trophic level estimation is based on presence of organic material in internal parts of the cave; – = not measured.
| Abb. |
Cave name |
EE (m a.s.l.) |
Cave length (m) |
Cave temp. X (°C) |
Cave depth Y (m) |
Trophic level* |
Region |
District |
Karst area |
| Xom |
Khomuli |
95 |
70 |
13.5–14 |
2 |
mt |
IM |
Ts |
ST |
| Mel |
Melouri |
424 |
5300 |
12–13 |
15 |
ot |
IM |
Ts |
ST |
| Sak |
Sakadzhia |
141 |
– |
– |
– |
mt |
IM |
Ts |
ST |
| Ssb |
Satsurblia |
305 |
125 |
11.7 |
20 |
mt |
IM |
Ts |
ST |
| Pro |
Prometheus |
147 |
2900 |
13.5–14.5 |
– |
et |
IM |
Ts |
ST |
| Dat |
Datvi |
140 |
56 |
– |
– |
mt |
IM |
Ts |
ST |
| Sat |
Satevzia |
215 |
250 |
– |
0 |
mt |
IM |
Kh |
ST |
| Koz |
Kozmani |
652 |
200 |
– |
– |
mt |
IM |
Kg |
ZI |
| Shv |
Shvilobisa |
730 |
1000 |
12.3 |
10 |
ot |
IM |
Ch |
ZI |
| Mot |
Motena |
570 |
95 |
13–13.6 |
14 |
ot |
SAM |
Ma |
AK |
| Ink |
Inchkhuri |
380 |
65 |
– |
– |
et |
SAM |
Ma |
OP |