georgia

Georgia is a country located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia in the Caucasus region. It is bordered by Russia to the north, Turkey and Armenia to the south, Azerbaijan to the southeast, and the Black Sea to the west. The capital and largest city is Tbilisi. The country encompasses varied geography, from the Greater Caucasus mountains in the north to plains and foothills in the east and a coast on the Black Sea.

Georgian is the official language; minority languages include Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Russian. Georgia is a unitary semi-presidential republic with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government; the legislature is unicameral.

Georgia has ancient roots in the kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia. It adopted Christianity in the 4th century, developing a distinct architectural and cultural heritage. The country was part of the Russian Empire in a later period, and in 1918 declared independence as the Democratic Republic of Georgia. It was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1921 and regained independence in 1991 after the USSR dissolved. Since then it has pursued democratization and closer ties with Europe, including association agreements and efforts toward European Union and NATO integration. Territorial conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia during the 1990s and 2000s led to de facto separation of those regions, with ongoing diplomatic and security implications.

Georgia's economy emphasizes services, tourism, agriculture, and wine production. It is renowned for its ancient wine traditions, particularly in Kakheti, using qvevri fermentation. The country also preserves a rich cultural heritage, including traditional polyphonic singing and the distinctive Georgian script used in modern writing.

There is also a U.S. state named Georgia.