Population- 420,000 (est. 2002) (48% urban)

Language- Georgian

Capital- Batumi

Government- Democratic Autonomous Region

Ethnic groups- Georgian 82%, others include Russian, Ukrainians, Armenians and Greeks.

Religions- Christian Orthodox 98%

Location- Southwestern Georgia, bordering Turkey to the south and the Black Sea to the west.

Climate- Predominantly mountainous but sub-tropical on the Black Sea coast

Area- 170 sq. miles. (36 miles of coast)

Natural resources- Gold, silver, copper and other metals, stone quarries, mineral springs, oil and gas deposits. Coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth