Nazodelavo Cave Natural Monument

Nazodelavo Cave Natural Monument (Georgian: ნაზოდელავოს მღვიმე) is a karst cave 6.8 km to the north from village Akhuti in Chkhorotsqu Municipality in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia.[1] Cave is located on the left bank of river Zana (Khobi river tributary), 290 meters above sea level.[2] Nazodelavo means the dwelling of Zodelavos. According to cave narratives, it was used as a means of defense in the middle ages.[3]

Nazodelavo Cave Natural Monument
Nazodelavo Cavern
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
Nearest cityZugdidi
Coordinates42°30′21.9″N 42°13′16.3″E
Area0.14 km2 (0.054 sq mi)
Established2013
Governing bodyAgency of Protected Areas
WebsiteNazodelavo Cave Natural Monument

Morphology

Nazodelavo karst cave formed in a conglomerates of the Neogene geologic period in Odishi plain karst massif.[4] Cave is 600 m long with main tunnel average width of 4 m and height 3 m. The two main outlets are narrower and shorter than the main cave tunnel. A cold underground river with clear water flows through an erosion canyon in cave floor. In some places depth of the erosion canyon reaches 7-8 meters. [5] [6]

Fauna

In the cave and in the surrounding area on the surface there are summer moths. The inhabitants of the cave include Lepidocyrtus, Folsomia and Oxychilus. [4]

See also

References
  1. Nazodelavo Cave in Georgia Protected Planet
  2. (in Georgian) Nazodelavo Cave Natural Monument
  3. (in Georgian) ნაზოდელავოს მღვიმე
  4. Barjadze, Sh., Arabuli, T., Mumladze, L., Maghradze, E., Asanidze, Z., Kutalia T. Nazodelavo Cave 2019, Cave Biodiversity of Georgia, Open Access Database. Institute of Zoology at Ilia State University
  5. Nazodelavo Cave page 271 in Perspectives in Geomorphology, Volume 1 Concept Publishing Company
  6. (in Georgian) ბუნების ძეგლი სოლკოტას მღვიმის ბუნების ძეგლი - წყალტუბო
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