The closest sea to the city of Tbilisi. Reservoirs of Tbilisi: lakes Lisi and Turtle, Tbilisi Sea. What is the sea like in Georgia?

It's a shame to look at in social networks on the happy faces of friends sunbathing on the Black Sea, when you yourself have to spend hot summer days in stuffy Tbilisi? There is a way out, even more than one! You also have a place to relax, sunbathe on sun loungers, breathe fresh air and take a couple of enviable selfies without leaving the city.

1. Lake Lisi. Now it's quite well-maintained beach, you can rent sun loungers (cost - from 5 to 10 GEL). On the beach line there is a lounge cafe, a coffee shop where you can have a snack, and several booths with cold drinks. People carry ice cream, sunflower seeds and boiled corn along the beach. On the other side, unsuitable for swimming or sunbathing, you can often see (and join) fishermen. A little further away you can feed the ducks. When the sun is already unbearably hot, vacationers usually move to a forest a few tens of meters from the beach area. There, children and adults play outdoor games or have picnics. By the way, few people know, but on the territory of Lake Lisi there is also a complex of sulfur baths (1), (2). The only inconvenience is the lack of parking and frequent traffic flow. Wait minibus or bus will take from 10 to 40 minutes.

2.Turtle Lake. There are paid (5 GEL – the price includes sun loungers) and free beaches. Unlike Lisi, where it is quite shallow, on Cherepashka the buoys are located close to the shore. Vigilant lifeguards work on the lake and give long reprimands to those who break the rules and swim beyond the buoys. Here you can rent boats and children's boats (within 5 GEL), there are a lot of cafes and restaurants around the reservoir. There are also children's sports grounds, and sometimes concerts are held in the evenings. Just like near Lisi, there is a forest close to the shore of Turtle Lake. And also, 1 km from it there is the Ethnographic Museum. You can get to Turtle by car in ten minutes from the Vake district.

3. White or Large(old name) lake in Gldani. Entrance to the paid beach costs 3 GEL (sun lounger included). The second side is called free, but, nevertheless, you need to pay 1 GEL for entry. The water is not very clean. There are cafes, but they are not functioning. True, there are slides for children, but they are also not in the best condition. But this place is very suitable for fishing (3). From Gldani, minibus No. 180 goes directly to the reservoir.

4. Tbilisi Sea. There are no problems with roads here. Transport is good. The most popular beach is from the Temka district. The Olympic village has already been built here, and the zoo will be moved in the near future. Various goodies are carried along the beach, there are many cafes and restaurants, a playground and a forest. You can go boating and motorboating. There is also a paid beach (15 GEL), it is located further - towards the Lotkin area, although it is better to swim on the free one. But in the paid area there is a clean pool, albeit a shallow one (4).

Since we are talking about places suitable for swimming, I will also say about the lake located near Tbilisi.

5. Lake Bazaleti. It is located 45 minutes drive from Tbilisi. You can get from Tbilisi by car or by minibus to Dusheti, and from there you can get there by taxi, train or bus in 10 minutes. The air in these places is very good, the area is more designed for tourists. There is a hotel and a residential complex for camps. There is a large children's entertainment area. The water in the lake is clean, almost transparent.

Well, if you can’t get further than the center or the Old Town, but want to swim, look for fountains! Yes, in fact, in Georgia there are no prohibitions or fines for this! You can see this for yourself: walk by the fountain near the Rustaveli metro station in Rike Park - you will see many happy faces escaping the heat!

Tbilisi Sea- this is the unofficial name of a huge reservoir located to the northeast of and is a favorite vacation spot for townspeople. It was created in the middle of the last century with the aim of supplying the capital of Georgia with water, and for this purpose three lakes and several surrounding villages were flooded with the waters of the Iori River.

Length Tbilisi Sea is 9 km, width 3 km, maximum depth 45 m. In the spring, the reservoir is filled with water and then released throughout the rest of the year - as a result, the water level fluctuates up to 10 m. Interestingly, in winter the reservoir does not freeze; it was covered with ice only twice in its entire history - in 1992 and 2012 .

In addition to purely utilitarian purposes, the Tbilisi Sea is used by townspeople as a “huge park of culture and recreation”: the reservoir has several equipped beaches, an excellent modern water park with a large spa area, and on a hill above the water rises one of the most interesting monuments of Tbilisi: "History of Georgia". This is where we will begin our next walk around Tbilisi.

Monument History of Georgia (Chronicles of Georgia)

Already on the approach to the huge black columns, Tsereteli’s name comes to mind and his Moscow “Peter I” comes to mind - and, as it later turns out, not in vain. “The History of Georgia” is also the result of the inspiration and imagination of the most prolific Georgian sculptor, who worked on this creation for 20 years, from 1983 to 2003!

The monument is made in the form of 16 huge cruciform steles, 35 meters high, each of which is decorated with 4 bas-reliefs on biblical subjects and events from the history of the country. There are no explanatory inscriptions, but even without them you can identify the great Georgian poet Rustaveli, King Bargat (founder of the famous Bagrationi dynasty), Queen Tamara, and the founder of Tbilisi, King Vakhtang Gorgasali.

Next to the stelae there is a church - clearly a remake in appearance, but quite beautiful:

From the walls of the church there is a wonderful view of the northern part of Tbilisi and the Tbilisi Sea:

How get there before"History of Georgia«: You can get there by car or walk from the Tbilisi Sea. In principle, there is a road to the monument from the residential areas of Gldani and Guramishvili, but I couldn’t drive there in my car - at some point it turned into a dead dirt road, and I decided not to risk it.

If you drive from the direction of the reservoir, you can enter these coordinates into your navigator: N41.76835, E44.80866, this is the turn to the monument from the main road going around the Tbilisi Sea.

Tbilisi Sea

Almost under the monument History of Georgia one of the best beaches on the Tbilisi Sea:

With some stretch, the beach in this place can be called pebble, but in fact it is not pebbles, but small stones - which is not surprising, given the artificial origin of the Tbilisi Sea.

There are usually a lot of vacationers in the summer on weekends, the infrastructure on the beach is very minimal: sun loungers, umbrellas, changing cabins, trash cans, during the season you can rent a boat or catamaran. In general, the entire organization of recreation on the beach gives a somewhat “handicraft” impression, and this has its own charm:

Staircase made from used tires

Since this is a city beach, you can’t expect crystal cleanliness from it - cigarette butts, cigarette packs, bags, etc.

It is advisable to swim in special rubber slippers - since the reservoir is artificial, there are not pebbles along its banks, but rather ordinary broken stones. And the edges of these stones can be quite sharp. Well, in sunny weather the pebbles get very hot, walking on them barefoot is not comfortable. And for the rest - beautiful place vacation within the city, we drove from ours to the beach by car in about 20 minutes, depending on traffic. Plus, nearby is the “History of Georgia”, a water park, an arboretum - in a word, a strategically very good and convenient place to relax. Of course, this is not sea or, but if you want to relax by the water and there is no way to get out of the city, the Tbilisi Sea is a very good option.

Between the road and the reservoir there is a wonderful pine forest with incredibly tasty air:

Usually, when going on vacation to Georgia, tourists think that they can only swim in the waters of the Black Sea. But this is far from true. There are also reservoirs in Tbilisi where swimming will be just as great as on the Georgian coast. One of these favorite places For many visitors and residents of the Georgian capital, the Tbilisi Sea is.

Is there a sea in Tbilisi or another city in Georgia? Indeed, there is no other sea other than the Black Sea in the country. Tbilisi Sea local residents they call it huge city ​​reservoir in the northeast of the capital of Georgia for its impressive size. Marine life they are not found in it, since the water is fresh. This is a very picturesque place to relax at any time of the year, which is easy to see by looking at the photo of the lake. In addition to its recreational value, the reservoir has several other functions: irrigation of nearby lands and regulation of river flow.

Description of the reservoir

The artificial reservoir of Georgia was created in the mid-20th century to supply Tbilisi with water. To construct it, it was necessary to flood three salt lakes that were previously located in this area.

Reference! The scale of the reservoir is amazing: its length is 9 km and its width is 3 km. The average depth is about 26 meters, but in some places it exceeds 45 meters. The water is clear and clean, warms up quickly and by July often reaches a temperature of 28 degrees. The area of ​​the water surface is 11.6 km². The reservoir is located at an altitude of 535 meters above sea level, so in summer it is not hot or stuffy on its shores.

Holidays on the shores of the Tbilisi Sea

In that beautiful place everyone will find something to do in the summer. Everything has been created on the banks of the reservoir so that vacationers do not get bored. There are cafes, restaurants, boarding houses and tourist centers built here. Both free and paid beaches equipped for a comfortable stay.

Important! The beaches of the Tbilisi reservoir resemble pebbles, but if you look closely, they are not pebbles, but broken stones, because the lake is of artificial origin. These stones are quite sharp, so it is more convenient to swim in special rubber shoes.

Among the large number of places for swimming on the small “sea”, every tourist will definitely be able to find something to suit his taste. We advise people who cannot tolerate noise and prefer silence to sunbathe and swim on the free “wild” beaches. They are located mainly on rocks, so you will have to go down to the water along rocky paths. But for lovers of a comfortable holiday, paid beaches are more suitable. They have a fairly developed infrastructure. You can not only sunbathe and swim on them, but also spend time actively.

Entertainment

If you are not a fan of passive relaxation, in this place you can easily find something to do so that you don’t get bored. You can’t even imagine how many interesting things there are here!

Local entertainment and attractions:

• Excursion to " Olympic Village»;
• Arboretum;
• Pinery;
• Monument "History of Georgia";
• National Park Tbilisi;
• Yacht trip:
• Fishing (paid);
• Boat and catamaran rides;
• Trip to Turtle Lake;
• Cable car;
• Aquapark;
• Playgrounds;
• Cycling or riding a scooter.

There is plenty of entertainment on the water and on the shore. Fishing, boating, catamarans or scooters will help brighten up vacationers' leisure time. There is even a local yacht club here. For those who cannot imagine life without sports, jogging and cycling paths have been created. Botany lovers will be interested in taking a walk through the arboretum located nearby.

The reservoir is separated from the highway by a pine forest with clean and fragrant air. Opens from all beaches beautiful view to the mountains. Once you find yourself in this unique, man-made corner, don’t forget to take a photo untouched beauty Georgian nature.

For tourists who prefer active pastime, we advise you to climb the hill above the reservoir and look at the “History of Georgia” monument, created by the great sculptor Zurab Tsereteli. The monument stands at an altitude of 120 meters; the master worked on this masterpiece for almost 20 years. There is a small church nearby. From the height of the hill a beautiful panorama of the surrounding nature opens up.

As an excursion, you can visit the local sports town “Olympic Village”, which was built for the 2015 Youth Olympics. Tbilisi National Park is located nearby. Those who come on holiday with children will also not be bored, because a modern water park with a huge spa area has been built here for little fidgets.

If you find yourself on the shore of a reservoir in Georgia in winter, you won’t regret it either. The thing is that during this cold time it is not covered with ice. Although this happened three times in its history: the first time the lake froze in the 1960s, then in 1992, and the third time it was covered with a crust of ice in 2012.

How to get to the reservoir

If you don’t have a car or the ability to call a taxi, then you can get to the Tbilisi Reservoir in Georgia by public transport. To do this, on the Central railway station Tbilisi you need to take minibus No. 111. You can also take the metro to Germany station, and from there transfer to route No. 60.

Attention! People who travel by public transport need to know: buses approach the northern part of the reservoir. All other areas can only be reached by car or taxi. Travel time from Tbilisi to the place is 40 minutes.

Turtle Lake

There is another popular vacation spot in Tbilisi - the small Turtle Lake. It is only 3 km away from the capital of Georgia, or 10 minutes if you go to it by car. You can also get there by taxi or bus. This rather deep lake is located on the slope of Mount Mtatsminda, and from its observation deck offers amazing views of the city.

Recently, a cable car appeared here; it connects “Turtle” (as the townspeople lovingly call the lake) with Vake Park. The lake area is well-maintained: the pebble beach has sun loungers, sun umbrellas and playgrounds for children. Why the reservoir has such a name is not exactly known. Some say it's because of its shape, while others claim that turtles once lived here. How many people, so many opinions.


If you decide to relax on the beaches of Georgia, it would be a mistake not to swim in the Tbilisi Sea, especially if the distance to it is short. Certainly Black Sea coast countries are beyond any competition, but for those who find themselves in Tbilisi, more than 300 hundred km from the sea, there is a good alternative for a pleasant beach holiday. After all, the city is home to the Tbilisi Reservoir and a small but well-maintained Turtle Lake, where you can escape the summer heat and swim.

These beaches in Georgia and Tbilisi are very popular among both Georgians and tourists; in the summer they are always crowded and lively. People come here for picnics with friends, to have fun with family or to arrange a romantic weekend for their girlfriend.

This article is for those who have already become familiar with the main historical and cultural monuments and want to see the nature of Tbilisi. I’ll tell you about the reservoirs that are located within the capital: Lisi and Cherepashye lakes, the Tbilisi Sea. How to get to them, location on the map, photos, where to shop.

Lake Lisi is a great place to relax from the noise of the city. Located on the outskirts of Tbilisi. Some incorrectly call it Fox Lake, probably associating it with foxes. Although it owes its name not to these red predators, but to the marsh grass “fox” that grows along the banks.

The lake itself is small, measuring 800 by 550 meters with a rocky landscape and little vegetation. The maximum depth reaches 4 m.

How to get there:

• by municipal bus No. 29 from the Station Square or Technical University metro stations. The fare is 50 tetri, paid by card or cash to the driver;
• a taxi ride will cost 7-8 GEL;
• personal car. There is paid parking for vehicles.

Lake Lisi is equipped for recreation. In the summer, you can sunbathe on the beach or swim, rent a boat and a catamaran. Tbilisi residents take blankets with them and have a picnic in the shade of the trees. There are also free exercise equipment to keep fit. You can play table tennis, do archery, and there is also a go-kart track here. A playground has been built for the little ones. Nearby there are cafes, vending machines with water and ice cream, and snacks. Around the lake there is a two-lane (bicycle and pedestrian zone) asphalt road 3 km long with benches for rest on the sides.

On the second half of the lake, grass grows, ducks swim and frogs croak, and fishermen catch fish. We even met a small turtle.

In 2018, under the leadership of the Tbilisi City Hall, the monthly festival “Tbi-Lisi” is held, the goal of which is to introduce the population of the capital to a healthy lifestyle. The festival will take place from April to September on every last Saturday of the month. I was lucky enough to attend the opening of the festival on April 28th. It was fun and interesting.

IN last years The area adjacent to Lake Lisi is being actively developed. The mayor of the city, Kakha Kaladze, decided to suspend all construction work in order to develop a plan for the development of the area and not spoil the natural beauty of the reservoir.

Turtle Lake is very small. Its dimensions are only 150 by 380 meters, the maximum depth is 2.6 m. It is located within Tbilisi on the slope of Mount Mtatsminda at an altitude of 687 meters above sea level.

In Georgian it is pronounced Kus Tba. There are two versions of the origin of the name. One says that there used to be turtles in the lake; in another, that the very shape of the lake resembles a turtle.

Howget there:

• from Vake Park climb to cable car. The fare is 1 lari. Carriage of bicycles is paid additionally - 1 GEL. You need a Metromoney card. The ascent will take 6-7 minutes. From the cabin you can enjoy a view of the park;
• by car. There is paid parking next to the lake;
• for a taxi you will have to pay 5-7 lari.

You can go around the lake along a walking path. Almost the entire path is in the shade of trees, because the lake is located in the forest, which means that even in the hot summer the walk will be a pleasure. You will be able to enjoy the clean cool air and listen to the birds singing.

There is a recreation area around the Turtle. For children there is a small playground with trampolines, inflatable slides, and water games. The disadvantage of the site is that it is located under the sun.

Residents of Tbilisi come here to run and exercise on exercise machines, fish or sunbathe. And, of course, go swimming! The entrance to the water is only on one side, the beach has pebbles.

Catamarans are available for rent. The cost of a half-hour walk is 35 GEL.

There are several cafes around the pond, although their prices are a little high.

Nearby is located, which contains houses from all regions of Georgia, reflecting the life of the population in the old days.

Tbilisi Sea (reservoir)

In fact, there is no sea in Tbilisi, there is only a large reservoir in the northeast of the capital. So the locals called it the Tbilisi Sea. To create it, three bitterly salty lakes were flooded in 1952 with the waters of the Iori River. The dimensions of the Tbilisi Sea are 9 by 2.85 km. In spring, the reservoir fills and the maximum depth reaches 45 meters, the average - 26.6 meters.

How to get there:

• from the Akhmeteli Theater metro station by minibus No. 158 or by bus No. 60 from the Grmagele metro station. You can see the map of Tbilisi metro stations;
• on .

Get there public transport to the Tbilisi Sea is possible only from the western and south sides. To explore the views of the northern part you will have to take a taxi.

In winter, the Tbilisi Sea does not freeze. There were only two exceptions, in 1992 and 2012.

There are several city beaches on the Tbilisi Sea. They are not very clean, but they are free. There are also paid beaches. You should go into the water carefully, because there are small broken stones all around. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available for rent. On weekends in summer the beach is always crowded. Tbilisians come to relax with their families after everyday work.

For entertainment, there is the Gino Paradise Tbilisi water park at the Tbilisi Reservoir. Official website http://ginoparadise.ge. On the beaches you can rent a boat or catamaran, or go jet skiing. There is a yacht club. Cafes and restaurants have been built along the sea.

Next to the reservoir there is a pine forest, where you can take a walk and breathe clean pine air.

Where is it safe to swim in Tbilisi

All three natural reservoirs (Tbilisi Sea, Lisi and Turtle lakes) are safe for swimming. From May to September inclusive, water samples are taken monthly at all beaches. The chemical and bacteriological parameters of the water of the Tbilisi Sea and Turtle Lake correspond to the standards. But in Lake Lisi the concentration of sulfates is increased due to the large amount of vegetation. You can swim in it, but you shouldn't swallow it. After all, sulfates have a laxative effect.

If you want to relax and swim, then the best choice Tbilisi Sea. You can also go to Lake Lisi. But I don’t think it’s worth choosing Turtle just for swimming.

Enjoy your stay in Tbilisi!

In Georgia you can relax no worse than in European resorts; there is a sea here. However, many prefer to choose a reservoir that is located in the capital of this state. It is located within the city of Tbilisi, or more precisely, in the northeast. Local residents call it nothing less than the Tbilisi Sea (photos can be seen in the article). Why were such associations held? What is special about this reservoir?

Characteristic

The reservoir, as mentioned above, is located in the northeastern part of Tbilisi, next to the national park. This artificial reservoir was created in 1952. It appeared after waters from the Iori River flooded 3 salt lakes, which, united, formed the Tbilisi Sea. The length of the reservoir is 9 km. On average, its width is 3 km. But if you study the depth, it becomes clear why the locals called the reservoir the sea. In some places, the bottom moves away from the surface of the water by 45 m. However, the average depth is 26 m.

Despite its size, the water level often fluctuates depending on the season. Replenishment occurs in summer, autumn and spring. water reaches 10 m.

The Tbilisi Sea is fed mainly by the resources of the Iori River. Water enters it through the Samgori Canal. The reservoir itself is part of the irrigation system and is actively used to irrigate nearby lands.

Climatic features

IN summer season there are always a lot of vacationers here, it’s easy to explain. By July, the water in the reservoir warms up to +28°C. Swimming is very comfortable. However, this is not the only advantage. The Tbilisi Sea is located at an altitude of 535 m above sea level, so in the summer it is not hot or stuffy here.

IN winter period the pond does not freeze. Although, according to official historical references, the lake undergoes glaciation every 20-30 years. Such cases were recorded in 1992 and 2012. There is also information that freezing occurred in the first half of the 60s.

Infrastructure

Since its foundation, the Tbilisi Sea has attracted residents of the capital and visitors as a pleasant place to relax. Therefore, the city administration decided to equip this artificial reservoir with attractions for a great time.

Today, the territory of the reservoir is landscaped. Excellent conditions have been created for vacationers so that they can enjoy their vacation to the fullest. Many entertainment establishments have been built and put into operation here, where you can have a pleasant time with family or friends.

There are also beaches on the reservoir. Here they offer vacationers boat trips on scooters and catamarans. Rescuers and employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations work on the territory around the clock. Based on this, there is no need to fear for safety when visiting the Tbilisi Sea; the beach is always under the supervision of professionals. Not only adults, but also children can swim here.

The shores on the free beaches mainly consist of rocks, so you have to go down into the water along rocky paths. But the paid ones have much more amenities, and they look much more attractive.

In addition, on the territory of the Tbilisi Reservoir there are spa centers with massage rooms, fitness, gyms, saunas and others. There is even a yacht club here.

In Georgia fishing is popular, and the Tbilisi Sea is no exception. However, fishing here is paid, but inexpensive. The price is discussed with the local administration.

Water park and Olympic village

For a pleasant holiday for children and teenagers, there is a water park on the local territory, which fully complies with European standards. It is considered the largest regional institution of this type. In the water park, 12 different swimming pools with salt and fresh water. The slides have a height of up to 31 m. There are 6 of them on the territory. There is also a ship that is equipped with a jacuzzi, and guests are offered delicious cocktails on its deck.

In addition to the water park, an Olympic village was built on the Tbilisi reservoir in 2015. It was here that the Youth Olympics were held. On the territory of the village, many houses have been built that can accommodate up to three thousand athletes. When arranging this area, all aspects were taken into account in order to provide guests with maximum comfort during training and for a good rest.

Tbilisi Sea: how to get there

Despite all the advantages, the capital's reservoir has one significant drawback - city transport does not go to it. Only the northern part of the sea can be reached from the nearest metro station, all others can only be reached by personal car or by taxi, which is sometimes economically unprofitable if you travel every day. Guests of the capital can afford this pleasure because they come for 2-3 days. It has been noted that a taxi takes 40 minutes to get from the center of the capital to this artificial reservoir. And you can always negotiate the fare.