m̌ ḫ's photos with the keyword: Black Sea

Stalin was responsible for the death and suffering of millions through labour camps, starvation policies, executions, deportations of minorities, and suppressing the truth about his crimes. His rule as dictator of the Soviet Union was marked by extensive atrocities and horrors. Examples: 1. Stalin oversaw a brutal system of labor camps known as the Gulag, where millions perished. [1] 2. Stalin pursued ruthless policies like collectivization that led to famine and starvation of millions of people. One article notes his "ill-conceived and often purposely cruel policies" caused millions to starve.[3] The famine in Ukraine in 1932-1933 known as the Holodomor killed 4-10 million people.[3] 3. Stalin ordered the execution of hundreds of thousands of people, including an event where he personally approved death sentences for over 3,000 people in one day.[5] In total, over 20 million people died under Stalin's rule.[2] 4. Stalin enacted atrocities against minority groups like mass deportations of certain ethnic groups and prisoners of war to labor camps where many died.[4] These included Crimean Tatars, Chechens, Poles, and others. 5. Stalin spread propaganda to cover up his crimes and had journalists and historians who revealed the extent of his atrocities discredited or killed. Gareth Jones exposed the Ukranian famine and was later killed, while journalist Walter Duranty won a Pulitzer Prize for denying the famine.[3] Citations: [1] history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/joseph-stalin.htm [2] www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-07-25-9707250034-story.html [3] fee.org/articles/the-hero-of-the-holodomor-who-exposed-stalin-s-horrors-and-paid-with-his-life [4] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_war_crimes [5] www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33788518

Gori Fortress is a medieval citadel located in the city of Gori, Georgia, standing atop a rocky hill overlooking the city. Archaeological evidence indicates the area had been fortified since at least the last centuries BCE, but the fortress first appears in written records from the 13th century. Its strategic location along important trade routes meant that controlling Gori Fortress was critical for maintaining political and military control over the Shida Kartli region of Georgia. As a result, it was continually fought over and captured by Georgians, Ottomans, Persians, and Russians over the centuries The fortress underwent major renovations and rebuilding numerous times, most significantly in the 17th century under King Rostom and in the late 18th century under King Erekle II, giving it much of its current structural form. Key surviving structures today include the western-facing Tskhra-kara ("Nine Gates") walls and a small church in the southeast section. However, the fortress suffered major damage in a 1920 earthquake and remains largely in ruins. Visitors can access the fortress by a short walk up the hill from Gori city center. Despite its dilapidated state, it offers impressive views of Gori and is an interesting glimpse into Georgia's medieval military history for travellers.

On the third day of our camping trip in this magnificent, nearly deserted UNESCO-protected site, we were visited by a group of local boys. They warmly invited us to go swimming and join them for a light breakfast. We gladly accepted and spent a pleasant morning getting to know them before we had to leave for Svaneti.The boys were very friendly and curious about us and our travels. Though we came from vastly different backgrounds, we were able to find common ground and make a human connection through simple kindnesses like sharing a meal.

Uplistsikhe is situated on a hill within the Gori-Uplistsikhe Ridge. This ridge offers a panoramic view of the surrounding valleys, rivers, and small villages. We can overlook the Mtkvari River Valley, which adds a scenic element to its location. The river winds through the valley, creating a picturesque setting. The surrounding hills are composed of limestone, creating unique cliff formations. These cliffs add to the dramatic and rugged landscape of the area.Numerous small villages surround Uplistsikhe within the Gori Municipality. Examples include Zemo Khukhuti, Kvemo Khukhuti, Mtskheta, Shalauri, and many others. These villages offer a glimpse into rural Georgian life and often have historic sites, such as churches and fortified towers.

Geologically, Uplistsikhe is situated on an impressive rocky plateau carved out of a tuff stone formation. Tuff is a type of volcanic rock formed from consolidated volcanic ash and other pyroclastic materials. The plateau consists of various rock-cut structures interconnected by narrow streets, tunnels, and staircases, forming a labyrinth-like complex. These structures include dwellings, public buildings, a theater, a palace, and even a Christian basilica, indicating the influence of different civilizations that inhabited Uplistsikhe over the centuries.

The area beneath the Prince Church in Uplistsikhe is known as the 'Long Temple' and is another set of cave halls worth a quick glance. The Prince Church is easily recognizable for its brick facade and doesn't quite fit in with its surroundings. The Long Temple is believed to have been a pagan temple, like many other structures in Uplistsikhe. The exact use of the Long Temple is unknown, but it is thought to have been a place of religious significance.

You’ve noticed a building that does not quite fit in with its surroundings. The Prince Church is an ancient structure that dates back to the 9th or 10th centuries and is located in Uplistsikhe, an ancient rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia. It is one of the few structures that survived the Mongol invasion, despite the Mongols killing thousands of monks. The reason why the Mongols spared the church is unclear, but it is possible that they used it as their base of operations during the invasion. Uplistsikhe was a pagan holy place before Georgia's conversion to Christianity, and there would have been a prominent temple on the site. It is noteworthy that many churches throughout the Caucasus region were built over the ruins of demolished temples. The decline of Uplistsikhe began in the 12th century after Mongol invasions, although it was still functioning for the next few centuries.

Uplistsikhe, an ancient rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia was a significant urban settlement, with various structures dating from the Early Iron Age to the Late Middle Ages. The town was a cult temple city and a large pagan centre prior to the introduction of Christianity in Georgia in the 4th century. It was dedicated to the sun goddess and served as a religious center by 1000 BC.

Uplistsikhe cave complex has been on the tentative list for inclusion into the UNESCO World Heritage program since 2007

Batumi Botanical Garden is located at the distance of 9 km from the center of Batumi, occupying the area approximately 1 km stripe of Southern-Western section of the coastline located between the river Chakvistskali estuary and the Green Cape. Not long time ago the area was totally covered with Kolkheti type forest (beech, chestnut, linden) and evergreen sub-forest. Visitors can enjoy hiking, walking, picnicking, and camping inside the garden.

Enjoying the best botanical garden and the best of wines

Batumi Botanical Garden (est. 1912) is one of the largest and oldest botanical gardens in the world, covering an area of over 100 hectares and featuring over 5,000 species of plants from nine phyto-geographic areas.