Inguri

Inguri is a river in western Georgia. It rises in the Greater Caucasus Mountains and generally flows southwest and west toward the Black Sea. In its lower reaches, the Inguri forms part of the border between Georgia and the de facto independent region of Abkhazia, making it a notable geographic boundary in the area.

The Inguri basin supports agricultural communities and features montane and submontane landscapes typical of the Caucasus. A major feature on the river is the Enguri Dam, located near the border with Abkhazia. The dam creates the Enguri Reservoir and houses a large hydroelectric power plant. The Enguri Dam is one of the tallest arch dams in the world, and its facilities play a central role in Georgia’s electricity production and regional energy arrangements.

Environmental considerations in the Inguri basin include sediment transport, water quality, and impacts on local ecosystems resulting from reservoir development and dam operations. The river remains an important resource for western Georgia, contributing to irrigation, drinking water, and power generation, while also intersecting with regional political and border-management issues stemming from the Georgia–Abkhazia context.