- Location: Kobuleti Municipality (Village Chakvistavi)
- Total area: 15.806 ha
- Distance from Batumi: 25 km
Mtirala National Park is located in the most western part of the Achara-Imereti range, on the Kobuleti-Chakvi ridge. The park was created in 2006 through the initiative of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia and the Agency of Protected Areas with the support of WWF
and the Norwegian government. At 1.381 m above sea level, it is the rainiest territory in Georgia, hence the name “mtirala” meaning “weeping”.
High humidity, frequent rains and fog make the landscape of Mtirala National Park very special. The park remains a protected site for Colchis flora and fauna including rare and endangered endemic and relict species. Here you can find the registered plants of 284 species, 202 genera and 68 families. 16 species are endemic ones. The rare relict endemics: Pontic oak (Quercus pontica), Medvedev birch (Betula medwedewii), Rhododendron (Rhododendron ungernii), epigea (Epigaea gaultheriodes), Colchis box-tree (Buxus colchica), Colchis bladdernut (Staphylea colchica), yew (Taxus baccata), common chestnut (Castanea sativa), Colchis nut (Corylus colchica), and walnut tree (Juglans regia) are included into the Red List of Georgia.
The fauna of the Mtirala National Park is represented by 95 species. 23 animal species are included into the Red List of Georgia: lynx, brown bear, Caucasian squirrel, Caucasian salamander, Caucasian adder and the butterflies – Apollo and Caucasian festoon. Among the relatively bigger fowl there are small eagles, kites, hawks, etc.
IMPORTANCE OF MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK
The existence of the park promotes maintenance of the natural ecosystem balance across the Kobuleti-Chakvi Range which, in itself, is the precondition to avoid erosion-landslide occasions and flooding. The ecologically clean environment of the National Park creates ideal conditions for stability and purity of drinking water.
The park also creates favorable conditions for Eco tourism development.
HISTORICAL - CULTURAL VALUE
Village Chakvistavi, surrounded by Mtirala National Park is interesting from historical-ethnographic point. Traditional architectural elements, old buildings and water mills are still preserved there.
AVAILABLE ACTIVITIES: HIKING, RECREATION, SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATION, RIDING MOUNTAINOUS BICYCLE AND QUADRICYCLE, HORSE RIDING, BIRD WATCHING
Useful link: Mtirala National Park, Agency of Protected Areas