Sataplia Reserve
The Sataplia Reserve - is a reserve in the Imereti region, Tskhaltubo Municipality of Georgia. It is located on Mount Satapli in the southwestern part of the Main Caucasian Range.
The reserve was founded in 1935, in modern borders - in 1957. (the famous scientist Petre Chabukiaki has contributed greatly to creating a reserve) The reserve was created to protect the deciduous-evergreen forests of the Colchis type, monuments of geology and archeology. The area of the reserve is 354 hectares, of which 348 hectares are forests.
The relief of the reserve is mountainous, the climate is close to the subtropical. In the Colchis forests of the reserve grow yew, Colchis boxwood, Colchis holly, laurel cherry, Colchis clover, beech, etc. 20 species of plants are endemic. Inhabit the jackal, badger, fox, hare.
The Sataplia Mountain, is famous by its rarest and the most beautiful karst caves. The largest cave of Sataplia was discovered in 1925 by Kutaisi museum employee, pedagogue Petre Chabukiani, and has a length of about 900 m. In 1933 he found out the footprints of Herbivorous and Raptor dinosaurs of different epochs . Sataplia dinosaurs are called “Satapliazaurus” and are different from Europian dinosaurs.
On the territory of the reserve, also, there is a crater of an extinct volcano, the traces of life of a stone man and several karst caves .
From antient time, on the south slope of Sataplia, in the limestone cracks inhabited bees. The local population collected honey here, tha’ts why it was called Sataplia (place of honey).
Easy pedestrian tourist routes are convenient for travel and provide an opportunity to visit the conservation building of dinosaur footprints, exhibition hall, unique karst caves, Colchic Forest and the wild bee habitat area. A beautiful view of Imereti region overlooks from the glass panoramic construction.
Tourists come from all over, to see this wonder.