Lesser Caucasus Mountains

The Meskheti Range forms part of the Lesser Caucasus, separating the Black Sea-facing country of western Georgia from the valleys of Samtskhe. Its ridges rise above deeply cut river gorges, and forests cover much of the wetter slopes. To the south the land opens towards the basin of Akhaltsikhe and the upper Kura. Passes across these mountains linked Samtskhe with the Georgian lands to the north and west, while the rugged terrain gave shelter to monasteries and fortified settlements.