Enguri

Enguri
The Enguri is the main source of water for the Enguri Dam in Georgia
Enguri is located in Georgia
Enguri
Enguri is located in Abkhazia
Enguri
Location
CountryGeorgia
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationMain Caucasian Range
Caucasus Major
MouthBlack Sea
 • coordinates
42°23′27″N 41°33′33″E / 42.3908°N 41.5592°E / 42.3908; 41.5592
Length213 km (132 mi)
Basin size4,060 km2 (1,570 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • rightMulkhra

The Enguri (Georgian: ენგური, romanized: enguri, Mingrelian: ინგირი, romanized: ingiri, Abkhaz: Егры, Egry) is a river in western Georgia. It is 213 km (132 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 4,060 km2 (1,570 sq mi).[1] It originates near Ushguli in northeastern Svaneti and plays an important role providing hydroelectric power to the area.

The Enguri Valley
Bridge over the Enguri river near the coast. In the background the area of Abkhazia
Mouth of Enguri river with viewtower, September 2018

The river emerges from the high Caucasus near the highest mountain in Georgia, Shkhara, and winds through the mountain valleys to the northwest before turning southwest to empty into the Black Sea near Anaklia.

Since the Abkhaz–Georgian conflict, both Georgia and Abkhazia keep troops on the river; Russia also keeps peacekeeping troops. The only legal crossing-point is the 870-metre (2,850 ft) long Enguri Bridge [ru], which was built by German prisoners of war from 1944 until 1948. There are also a number of illegal connections across the river.

The river plays an important role in the Georgian energy production. In 1988 the Enguri Dam was built at a height of 240 metres (790 ft). At 750 metres (2,460 ft) across and 271.5 metres (891 ft) high, it is the largest construction in the Caucasus. It has a capacity of 1.1 million cubic metres (39,000,000 cu ft) of water. The underground water works produce about 40% of the national energy. The capacity is 1,300 megawatts.

  1. ^ Statistical Yearbook of Georgia: 2020, National Statistics Office of Georgia, Tbilisi, 2020, p. 12.