Greater Caucasus Mountains

The mountains north of Imereti rise from forested valleys towards the snow-covered ridges of the Greater Caucasus. The southern branches of the range divide the waters of the Enguri and Rioni, while streams carve deep gorges through their slopes. High meadows lie above the forests, and the great peaks of Svaneti form a distant barrier between the Black Sea lowlands and the lands beyond the main crest.