Akhalgori (Georgian: ახალგორი, Ossetian: Ленингор, romanized: Leningor) is a town in Georgia[1] (in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, according to the official administrative division of Georgia). The name Akhalgori is the original historical name of the town used by the Georgians and officials, whereas Leningor is the name given to the city in the Soviet era and used by the South Ossetians. The town is situated on the banks of the River Ksani, height above sea level — 800 m.

Akhalgori / Leningor
ახალგორი
Town
Akhalgori / Leningor is located in South Ossetia
Akhalgori / Leningor
Akhalgori / Leningor
Location of Akhalgori in Georgia
Akhalgori / Leningor is located in Mtskheta-Mtianeti
Akhalgori / Leningor
Akhalgori / Leningor
Akhalgori / Leningor (Mtskheta-Mtianeti)
Akhalgori / Leningor is located in Georgia
Akhalgori / Leningor
Akhalgori / Leningor
Akhalgori / Leningor (Georgia)
Coordinates: 42°07′10″N 44°29′16″E / 42.11944°N 44.48778°E / 42.11944; 44.48778
Country Georgia
De facto state South Ossetia[1]
MkhareMtskheta-Mtianeti
DistrictLeningor
Elevation
788 m (2,585 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • Total
1,033
Time zoneUTC+4 (Georgian Time)
ClimateWarm, cold Climate
Websitewww.akhalgori.org.ge

History

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The village of Akhalgori was first mentioned in the 18th century by Prince Vakhushti of Kartli in his work The Geographic Description of Georgia.[2] The name derives from the Georgian words meaning "new" (ახალი/akhali) and "hill" or "mountain" (გორა/gora).[2] Before Sovietization of Georgia in 1921, Akhalgori was the residence of Georgian Noble Eristavi Duce. During the Soviet era it was part of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast and was called Leningori (Ленингори; ლენინგორი) after Vladimir Lenin.[2] It was renamed Akhalgori by the Georgian SSR government at the end of 1990.

Control over the town

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During the 1991–1992 South Ossetia war the town remained under Georgian jurisdiction after most of South Ossetia broke away from the central government's control. It came under the control of South Ossetian secessionist authorities as a result of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War[3] on August 17, 2008.[4] Subsequently, the government of South Ossetia renamed the town to Leningor.[5]

Before the conflict, the Akhalgori district had a population of 7,700, with approximately 2,000 living in the town itself. The largest villages were Ikorta, Korinta, Qanchaveti, Kvemo Zakhori, Largvisi, Doretkari, and Karchokhi. The population was primarily Georgian (6,520) and Ossetian (1,110) with good relations between the two communities.[6] Currently Akhalgori as well as South Ossetia are controlled by Russian forces and South Ossetian militia.

Town's position in administrative subdivision makeup

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Industry and commerce

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Akhalgori was home to the Lomisi brewery, owned by the Turkish company Efes Beverage Group, which was the primary employer in the town. The town is now home to a different brewery, the Vysokogornaya Kelskaya Pivovarnya, which opened in 2023.[7][8]

Climate

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Climate data for Leningor
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.9
(37.2)
4.1
(39.4)
8.8
(47.8)
15.2
(59.4)
20.6
(69.1)
23.9
(75.0)
26.7
(80.1)
26.7
(80.1)
22.5
(72.5)
16.9
(62.4)
9.8
(49.6)
4.7
(40.5)
15.2
(59.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.6
(29.1)
−0.5
(31.1)
3.8
(38.8)
9.2
(48.6)
14.5
(58.1)
17.7
(63.9)
20.6
(69.1)
20.5
(68.9)
16.3
(61.3)
11.2
(52.2)
5.2
(41.4)
0.4
(32.7)
9.8
(49.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −6
(21)
−5.1
(22.8)
−1.1
(30.0)
3.2
(37.8)
8.4
(47.1)
11.6
(52.9)
14.5
(58.1)
14.4
(57.9)
10.2
(50.4)
5.5
(41.9)
0.6
(33.1)
−3.9
(25.0)
4.4
(39.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 35
(1.4)
41
(1.6)
51
(2.0)
73
(2.9)
108
(4.3)
100
(3.9)
76
(3.0)
63
(2.5)
58
(2.3)
59
(2.3)
60
(2.4)
46
(1.8)
770
(30.4)
Source: Climate-Data.org[9]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b South Ossetia's status is disputed. It considers itself to be an independent state, but this is recognised by only a few other countries. The Georgian government and most of the world's other states consider South Ossetia de jure a part of Georgia's territory.
  2. ^ a b c Pospelov, p. 29
  3. ^ Civil.ge, Sides Warn of ‘Tensions’ in Akhalgori, 25.08.2008
  4. ^ "Осетины заявили о захвате грузинами села в непризнанной республике". Lenta.RU (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  5. ^ (in Russian) Осетины заявили о захвате грузинами села в непризнанной республике, Lenta.ru, 25 août 2008.
  6. ^ Catchpole, Dan (2008-10-16). "Talks, Russian forces pause in Georgia". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  7. ^ "Высокогорная Кельская пивоварня". alpine-brewery.com. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  8. ^ "Открытие завода «Высокогорная кельская пивоварня»". HobbyStudio - Открытие завода «Высокогорная кельская пивоварня». Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  9. ^ "Leningor climate - Climate-Data.org". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 2019-08-04.

Sources

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  • Е. М. Поспелов (Ye. M. Pospelov). "Имена городов: вчера и сегодня (1917–1992). Топонимический словарь." (City Names: Yesterday and Today (1917–1992). Toponymic Dictionary.) Москва, "Русские словари", 1993.
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