The South Caucasus is a region between the Black and Caspian Sea. It is located south of the Great Caucasus Mountains and is owned by the States Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia educated. In the north it is through the Caucasus and in the south by the so-called little caucasus limited.
The three states of the South Caucasus are also called in a historical context Transcaucasia denotes: The areas of the Russian Tsarist Empire or the Soviet Union that lay behind the Caucasus. Together with the areas of Russian Federation, which lie exactly north of the Caucasus, they form the Caucasus region.
Regions
There are three areas in the region that are not recognized as independent by most other states. However, in these areas the respective central governments have no control and from the point of view of a traveler they are functionally independent. The three areas are:
places
- Azerbaijan
- Baku - Capital of Azerbaijan. Other large cities in the country are:
- Ganja (Gəncə)
- Sumqait
- Sheki (Şeqi)
- Mingacevir
- Nakhchivan (Naxçıvan) - capital of the exclave of the same name.
- Georgia
- Tbilisi - capital of Georgia. Other large cities in the country are:
- Kutaisi
- Batumi
- Rustavi
- Zugdidi
- Sukhumi - Capital of the breakaway region Abkhazia
- Tskhinvali - Capital of the breakaway region South Ossetia
- Armenia
- Yerevan (Yerevan) - capital of Armenia. Other large cities in the country are:
- Gyumri
- Spitak
- Stepanakert - Capital of the region Nagorno-Karabakh
- Vanadzor
background
history
The "Transcaucasian regions" were gradually annexed by Tsarist Russia in the 18th century, with some bloody wars being fought here, especially against the Ottoman and Persian empires. In the course of the 19th century, the areas under Russian control south of the Caucasus were administered as "Transcaucasus" in the tsarist empire, which was the administrative seat Tbilisi.
After the October Revolution of 1917, several independent states were formed south of the Caucasus, such as the Transcaucasian Democratic Republic, the Republics of Armenia and Georgia, which, however, were brought under Soviet control by the Red Army in sometimes bitter fighting until 1921. By 1923 the Soviet Union had to move around some smaller areas Kars and Artvin to the Turkey submit. During the 1920s, the Transcaucasian Soviet Republic was split up into the three Soviet republics, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Until 1991, the entire area was part of the Soviet Union. After their collapse, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia gained independence. Shortly afterwards, however, the regions of Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia split off from the new states. Armed conflicts broke out. There are currently three regions de facto independent, i.e. they function more or less as independent states with their own administration, their own entry requirements, etc., but are not recognized by most states. As a result of these developments, many borders in the region are closed.
In the last twenty years, numerous regional conflicts grew into veritable civil wars, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of people becoming refugees. Even today, the conflicts are far from over, as the renewed escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in summer 2014 showed.
description
The designation Transcaucasia reflects the colonial Russian view of this region: the countries behind the Caucasus Mountains. This is why the neutral term is used in modern literature both in the countries concerned and internationally South Caucasus preferably used.
Europe or Asia?
The fact that this region belongs to one of the two continents is a very emotional matter, especially in the affected countries.
Geographically Depending on the literature, the border between Europe and Asia runs either in the lowlands north of the Caucasus or on the main ridge of the Great Caucasus Mountains. Geographically, the region is almost 100% part of Asia, if one considers some small areas of Georgia and Azerbaijan (e.g. Chewi, Pshawi and Chewsureti, Tusheti) that are beyond this watershed.
Politically Georgia in particular is strongly oriented towards Europe and North America, Armenia strongly towards Russia, Azerbaijan, on the other hand, has strong political ties with Iran and the former Central Asian Soviet republics. Georgia is the only one of the three countries to have signed the EU Association Agreement of the Eastern Partnership (July 2014). The majority of the population also see themselves as part of Europe.
Cultural the countries are shaped differently by the nearby states of the Middle East and Central Asia. This not only applies to the culinary arts, but also to folk music and traditional ways of life. However, the countries were strongly influenced by Europe through the Russian and Soviet rule, which lasted around 200 years.
Religious and from a cultural point of view, Georgia and Armenia are Christian, Azerbaijan Muslim, although there are also significant populations of other faith communities in each of the three states, especially in Georgia, where Muslim majority populations exist in Adjara, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
In general, it can be said that this region, which geographically belongs to Asia, forms a cultural and political bridging function between the two major continents, where European, Oriental and Asian ways of life merge into a mix in which sometimes one and sometimes the other component dominates. The region also shows, however, that the definition of Europe is arbitrary and that the continent in the east does not have a sharp border, but slowly merges into the continent of Asia as a continuum.
language
A wide variety of languages and dialects are spoken in Transcaucasia. The official languages are:
- Armenian (Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; 9 million speakers) - an Indo-European language; is written with the Armenian alphabet
- Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan; 9 million speakers) - closely related to Turkish and with this large part mutually understandable; is written with the Latin alphabet (plus special characters)
- Georgian (Georgia; 4 million speakers) - belongs to the group of South Caucasian languages; is written with the Georgian alphabet
- Ossetian (South Ossetia; 580,000 speakers) - belongs to the Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages; is written with the Cyrillic alphabet (plus special characters)
- Abkhazian (Abkhazia; 120,000 speakers) - belongs to the group of Northwest Caucasian languages; is written with the Cyrillic alphabet (plus special characters)
- Russian (Abkhazia and South Ossetia) - belongs to the Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages; is written with the Cyrillic alphabet
In addition, Russian is considered by almost everyone in the region lingua franca understood and spoken.
getting there
Due to the many closed borders (see above), the easiest way to get here is by plane. The airports of Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan are served by various companies from Central Europe.
Overland there is only a road connection from Russia Vladikavkaz to Tbilisi (Georgian Army Road), there are also three border crossings from Turkey to Georgia, the most used is Sarpi bei Batumi. From Iran you can also drive to Azerbaijan or Armenia.
You can go to Azerbaijan from Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) as Aktau (Kazakhstan) arrive by ferry; to Georgia (Batumi and Potentiometer) there are ferries from the Ukraine.
Abkhazia's airports and seaports are closed, the only way to get there is overland from Sochi in Russia out.
Nagorno-Karabakh airport is also closed, you have to travel overland from Armenia via the Lachin corridor.
South Ossetia can only be reached from North Ossetia - or with a special permit (only available for diplomats & accredited journalists) from Georgia.
mobility
There is an east-west train connection in Georgia. There are also night trains between Tbilisi and Baku as well as Tbilisi and Yerevan, in summer there is also a night train Yerevan-Batumi.
Otherwise you have to rely on cars or Marschrukti (shared taxis) or buses. The main roads in the region are well developed, they can be reached in Azerbaijan and between Tbilisi and Gori even almost western highway standards. Regional and local connections, however, especially in Georgia, are often only accessible with off-road vehicles.
Limits
Because of the numerous local and regional conflicts, numerous borders within the region and with neighboring states are temporarily or permanently closed and impassable. The status of the borders can change at any time, too current Country travel information is available German Foreign Office Information desk.
- Abkhazia
- Core Georgia: open to foreigners
- Russia: open
- The transit from Russia to core Georgia via Abkhazia (or vice versa) is prohibited by the Georgian authorities and is punished as an illegal border crossing. Anyone who travels from Russia to Georgia via Abkhazia does not have a Georgian entry stamp and can therefore be subject to massive fines and even imprisonment during a check in Georgia!
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan: closed
- Bergbarabach: open
- Georgia: open
- Iran: open
- Turkey: closed
- Azerbaijan
- Armenia: closed
- Nagorno Karabakh: closed
- Georgia: open
- Iran: open
- Russia: open
- Turkey: open
- Nagorno Karabakh
- Armenia: open
- Azerbaijan: closed
- Iran: closed
- Georgia
- Abkhazia: open to non-Georgians: The transit from Russia to core Georgia via Abkhazia (or vice versa) is prohibited by the Georgian authorities and is punished as an illegal border crossing. Anyone who travels from Russia to Georgia via Abkhazia does not have a Georgian entry stamp and can therefore be subject to massive fines and even imprisonment during a check in Georgia!
- Armenia: open
- South Ossetia: closed (except for diplomats, journalists and members of NGOs or aid missions, only with special permission!)
- Russia: open (border crossing on the Georgian Army Road)
- Turkey: open
- South Ossetia
- Georgia: closed (except for diplomats, journalists and members of NGOs or aid missions, only with special permission!)
- Russia: open - The transit from Russia to core Georgia via South Ossetia (or vice versa) is prohibited by the Georgian authorities and is punished as an illegal border crossing. Anyone who travels from Russia to Georgia via South Ossetia does not have a Georgian entry stamp and can therefore be subject to massive fines and even imprisonment during a check in Georgia!
Tourist Attractions
Unesco world heritage sites
Armenia:
- Haghpat, Ordzu and Sanahin monasteries
- Etchmiadzin Cathedral and Churches and Zvartnots Archaeological Site
- Geghard Monastery in the Upper Azat Valley
Azerbaijan:
Georgia:
- Religious sites around Mtskheta: Jvari, Svetitskhoveli and Samtavro
- The cathedrals of Bagrati and Gelati in and around Kutaisi
- The mountain villages of Upper Svaneti (e.g. Ushguli, Mestia)
More Attractions
- The mountains of the Caucasus
- The mountains of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
- The old churches and monasteries in Georgia & Armenia
- Black Sea Beaches
- The old towns of Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Seki
- The wine region of Kakheti
activities
- There are numerous opportunities for mountain sports in Georgia, such as hiking and mountaineering in Svaneti and Tusheti, Skiing in Gudauri and Bakuriani. Furthermore, rafting and canoeing of all levels of difficulty are offered on the numerous mountain rivers (Tergi, Mtkvari, Rioni).
kitchen
Rich and excellent in all three countries.
nightlife
Especially in the capitals and in the seaside resorts during the season, otherwise it is usually 11 p.m. after work.
security
The security situation in the region has calmed down somewhat. South Ossetia is still dangerous, where there is no really comprehensive control by a state authority.
Caution is also advised directly on the dividing lines between South Ossetia / Abkhazia and Georgia and between Armenia / Bergbarabakh and Azerbaijan. There are sometimes dangers here from mines or exchanges of fire.
In the core regions of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, travelers have little to fear when it comes to crime, the usual security precautions are perfectly adequate.
climate
- In the mountains mountain climate with cold and snowy winters, high altitudes such as Tusheti are partially inaccessible between October and June.
- On the Black Sea coast and in western Georgia, mild and humid winters and warm and humid summers. In winter there is rarely frost, and daytime temperatures of around 20 ° C are not uncommon in February.
- In Eastern Georgia and Armenia, a continental climate similar to that of Eastern Central Europe, with cold winters and hot summers. Due to the southern location, winter is relatively short (December to March), while summer is a little longer (May to September). In autumn it can still be pleasantly warm until December.
- In Azerbaijan there is a partial steppe climate, with very hot summers and not too cold winters and dry all year round.
