Zestaponi Municipality Explained

Official Name:Zestaponi Municipality
Native Name:ზესტაფონის მუნიციპალიტეტი
Settlement Type:Municipality
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Georgia
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Imereti
Subdivision Type2:Capital
Subdivision Name2:Zestaponi
Government Type:Mayor–Council
Governing Body:Zestaponi Municipal Assembly
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Giorgi Goglichidze (Georgian Dream)
Area Total Km2:423
Population As Of:2014
Population Total:57628
Demographics Type1:Population by ethnicity[1]
Demographics1 Title1:Georgians
Demographics1 Info1:99.5 %
Demographics1 Title2:Russians
Demographics1 Info2:0.2 %
Demographics1 Title3:Armenians
Demographics1 Info3:0.1 %
Demographics1 Title4:Ukrainians
Demographics1 Info4:0.1 %
Timezone:Georgian Standard Time
Utc Offset:+4
Pushpin Relief:y
Module:
Wikidata:yes
Zoom:9
Frame-Height:260
Stroke-Width:1

Zestaponi or Zestafoni (Georgian: ზესტაფონის მუნიციპალიტეტი) is a municipality of Georgia, in the region of Imereti. The municipality covers a total area of 423 square kilometres and as of 2014 it had a population total of 57,628 people.Its main town is Zestaponi which is an important industrial center, with a large ferro-alloy plant processing manganese ore from nearby Chiatura. The municipality is a notable wine-growing region.[2]

Geography

The municipality to the west of the town of Zestaponi is part of the Kolkheti lowlands at a height of 90-200 m, with the land rising to the east to the Imereti plateau at 500 m through a hilly zone with narrow rocky gorges. The region is bounded to the south with a low range of mountains rising to about 1,000 m. The lowland zone has relatively cold winters averaging -4 °C in January, with hot summers averaging 24 °C in August. Precipitation is about 1190 mm annually. In the higher areas the temperature is lower and there is more rainfall. The Kvirila River runs through the region from east to west, fed by many smaller rivers. Flooding is common in the spring.[2]

The municipality is forested with hornbeam, oak, beech, chestnut, alder and many other tree species. The southern range has beech, maple, lime and Imeretian oak. The land has been partly cleared for agriculture in the lowlands and hilly areas, but is more densely forested in the southern mountain range. The forests are home to wolf, fox, jackal, badger, rabbit and smaller animals.[2]

Settlements

Towns

The town of Zestaponi and the smaller neighboring town of Shorapani are industrial centers.The Zestaponi ferro-alloy plant processes raw manganese ore shipped by rail down the Kvirila valley from Chiatura, supplying 6% of world demand. It is the largest ferroalloy plant in the country.[3] There were more factories in the Soviet era, but many have closed down.[2]

Rural areas

The rural areas include the communities ofBoslevi, Dilikauri, Dzirula, Ilemi, Kldeeti, Kvaliti, Kveda Sakara, Kveda Sazano, Meore Sviri, Puti, Pirveli Sviri, Rodinauli, Sanakhshire, Shrosha, Tskhratskaro, Zeda Sakara and Zovreti.Each community typically includes two or three villages.There are medieval castles in several villages, notably the Shorapani and Sviri castles in the historical village of Argveti and a castle from the 6th-7th centuries in Tabakini. There are old churches, ancient wine cellars and other points of interest for tourism.[2]

The Zestaponi Municipality has 5,000 hectares of vineyards accounting for 80% of all farmland.The Sakara Viticulture and Winemaking Scientific-Research Station plays an important role in developing viticulture in the Zestaponi Region. Other crops include maize and vegetables, cattle breeding and swine production.[2]

The district's main settlements are:

Rank Settlement Population
1 20 814
2 2 099
3 1 989
4 1 564
5 1 513
6 1 258

Politics

Zestaponi Municipal Assembly (Georgian: ზესტაფონის საკრებულო, Zestaponis Sakrebulo) is a representative body in Zestaponi Municipality, consisting of 39 members which are elected every four years. The last election was held in October 2021.

Party2017[4] 2021[5] Current Municipal Assembly
 Georgian Dream2927                          
 United National Movement310          
 For Georgia2  
 European Georgia2
 Alliance of Patriots2
Total3639 

See also

External links

42.1056°N 43.0358°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ethnic composition of Georgia 2014 . mashke.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20181104125931/http://pop-stat.mashke.org/georgia-ethnic-loc2014.htm . 2018-11-04 . live.
  2. Web site: Zestafoni Region . PS News . 2010-01-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721025958/http://www.psnews.ge/eng/zestafoni-region_eng.php . July 21, 2011.
  3. Web site: Russia plans to up output of ferroalloys. . American Metal Market . April 2, 1999 . MITCHELL, ROBERT W. . 2009-02-01.
  4. Web site: Protocol elected municipal council members and mayors 2017. 2021-12-20 . CESKO Central Election Commission . ka.
  5. Web site: Protocol elected municipal council members and mayors 2021. 2022-12-20 . CESKO Central Election Commission . ka.