Kolkheti

Kolkheti, or Colchis in antiquity, is a historic-geographic region in western Georgia. It lies along the eastern coast of the Black Sea and encompasses parts of today’s Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti and Adjara. The region is dominated by the Kolkheti Lowland, a wetland-rich plain that stretches to the coast and includes the delta of the Rioni River, near the port towns of Poti and Kobuleti.

Ecology and climate: The climate is humid subtropical with mild winters; annual rainfall is high. The Kolkheti Lowland features extensive reed beds, estuaries, and coastal lagoons that support diverse wetland habitats and migratory birds. Kolkheti National Park protects representative ecosystems and is a key site for conservation and ecotourism.

History and culture: In antiquity Colchis was a powerful kingdom in Caucasia, known from Greek sources and myths as the land of the Golden Fleece. The Phasis river region (the modern Rioni) hosted major centers, including Phasis, near present-day Poti. Colchian culture contributed to early metallurgy and crafts; the region later passed under various Georgian polities and empires, and the name Kolkheti appears in medieval Georgian chronicles.

Modern context: Today Kolkheti is used chiefly as a historical-geographic term and a cultural reference within Georgia. Its landscapes remain important for biodiversity, archaeology, and tourism, with protected areas, coastal towns, and archaeological sites drawing visitors.