Tbilisi Sea like. Where to swim in Tbilisi. Water park and Olympic village

In the morning I was going to visit Mtskheta, but the weather turned out to be cloudy, and I quickly adjusted my plans. I took the metro to the Grmagele station and from there went towards the Tbilisi Reservoir (locals call it the “Tbilisi Sea”).

Residential buildings near the Grmagele metro station are something incredible by our standards. A treasure trove of architectural solutions. The Georgian balconies that residents independently build on different floors no longer surprise me, but here this phenomenon has acquired a truly grotesque form.

Entire rooms are added to an ordinary apartment building.

Moreover, construction may not begin from the first floor at all. A breathtaking sight.

Along Mukhrani Street we went up to the northern part of the Tbilisi reservoir. The road goes up almost constantly. Another charger :)

There were once several salt lakes here, but in 1952 they were flooded with water from the Iori River. As a result, a lake 9 kilometers long and about 30 meters deep (in some places the depth reaches 45 meters) was formed.

This is one of three lakes (along with Turtle Lake and Lake Lisi) within Tbilisi. The biggest one.

On the hill you can see the “History of Georgia” memorial by Zurab Tsereteli. From a distance it resembles Stonehenge :)

I read that the Tbilisi Sea is popular with local residents as a place summer holiday. Maybe. But in general, the northern part of the lake is a depressing sight.

The remains of the boarding house "Golden Fleece", owned during the Soviet years by the Bureau of International youth tourism"Satellite".

Lonely fisherman.

There was information that after the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, the boarding house was occupied by Abkhaz refugees.

I don’t know who lives here now, but they started a rare mess. How is this possible?! Some kind of pigs.

Having made my way through mountains of garbage, used napkins and condoms (I’ll leave all this behind the scenes), I climbed the next hill. But here it turned out even worse :(

A masterpiece of Georgian entrepreneurship: there is some kind of frozen unfinished building (a frame, essentially), but someone especially smart got himself an apartment on the third floor :)

Stunning, of course.

Everything is falling apart.

But, surprisingly, there are many roads here and they are all well-rolled. That is, they travel often.

Moreover, the roads are so compacted that huge holes have already appeared. A torn off bumper was seen near one of these holes. The lake beckons people, beckons.

Nature is beautiful. If we removed all the rubbish from here and took away the concrete rubble somewhere, it would turn out to be a very nice place.

Looking at the sky, thoughts about possible rain crept in. Rain was not part of my plans at all. It's time to go back.

Water park next to the lake.

I’m not looking for normal roads, I’m going straight :)

House with a tiled roof. It is possible that some kind of church.

On the way I had lunch at a roadside cafe. It is not marked in any way on the map; all the inscriptions are in Georgian. Purely for locals. Tourists clearly don’t come here often :) From the first day in Tbilisi I wanted to visit a place like this. Class!

After Mikheil Saakashvili came to power, Georgia began to implement the concept of transparent power, that is, power that has nothing to hide from citizens.

As part of this concept, dozens of new police stations with large windows and even glass walls were built across the country.

As opposed to glass police stations - a strange house without windows :)

School bus.

During a stop, the STOP sign is displayed.

Relations between Georgia and Russia (their governments, of course) cannot be called good, but Lukoil gas stations are working. Business, that's how it is.

Strange thing on the hill.

Another one interesting feature Georgian self-building: converting balconies into rooms and reducing the glazing area of apartments.

It looks, to put it mildly, unusual. Very unusual.

Everyone gets by with the materials at hand: what they have, I make them out of. Of course, we are not talking about symmetry. Judging by the pipes exposed outside, there is a suspicion that some of the apartments have stoves installed.

Having admired Georgian resourcefulness and ingenuity to my heart’s content, I went out to the railway station.

The weather has completely deteriorated. Having pushed through the impudent begging children near the metro, I went to rest at the hotel and gain strength before Mtskheta.

Is there a sea in Tbilisi? This question worries many people planning to spend their holidays in hospitable Georgia. Such a high interest in this topic is not at all surprising. Most tourists have no idea good rest without the playful splash of waves, warm golden sand, the opportunity to admire the surf against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset and take memorable photos.

Another wonderful bonus of a vacation by the sea is a beautiful, even tan, which will give rise to warm memories of heavenly days on the coast for a long time.

But let's be honest: unfortunately, there is no sea in Tbilisi. But this does not mean that in the summer residents and guests of the city have to languish in the heat, without the opportunity to plunge into cool water. There are many beautiful bodies of water in and near the capital of Georgia, where swimming will bring a lot of pleasure.

Lake Lisi

The beautiful Lake Lisi is one of the most popular vacation spots among residents of the Georgian capital. It is located just west of Tbilisi. You can easily get to the reservoir: comfortable buses and minibuses leave the city every 10-20 minutes.

Near the picturesque lake everything you need is provided for have a nice rest. The beach is well-maintained and it is possible to rent comfortable sun loungers. How much this service costs should be clarified on site. There are several catering establishments on the beach line where you can hide from the scorching sun, have a snack and enjoy refreshing drinks. However, if vacationers want to eat, it is not at all necessary to leave the comfort of your sun lounger: sellers constantly walk along the beach offering boiled corn, ice cream and other food.

Only one shore of Lake Lisi in Tbilisi is suitable for sunbathing and swimming. The other side is the kingdom of fishermen. Avid fans fishing gather there regularly. You can join them if you wish. Ducks live nearby and always accept treats from tourists with great joy.

The opportunity to feed funny birds is especially enjoyable for kids. Next to the reservoir, just a few tens of meters away, there is a small forest. You can move there if you want to hide from the scorching sun. This shaded place is ideal for active games and picnics.

Turtle Lake is another popular vacation spot in Georgia. It is located not far from the capital: driving to the reservoir from Tbilisi takes no more than 10 minutes. Compared to Lisi, this lake is quite deep, the buoys here are located at close proximity from the shore. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful and closely monitor children. The safety of vacationers is also ensured by vigilant rescuers who identify violators and conduct long instructive conversations with them.

Turtle Lake has paid and free beaches. As in other holiday destinations, there are numerous restaurants and cafes where you can refresh yourself and have fun. The rental service of boats and speedboats diversifies the leisure time of vacationers. Modern sports grounds will provide an active pastime for children. Sometimes in the evenings there are concerts on the lake.

The Tbilisi reservoir, which is often called the Tbilisi Sea, is not only perfect place for relaxation, but also an impressive water attraction. There is an endless body of water in the northeastern part of the Georgian capital. Man had a hand in the creation of this wonderful place: for its implementation, 3 bitter-salty lakes were specially flooded with the waters of the Iori River. This happened at the end of the 20th century.

The reservoir reaches 8 km in length and 3 km in width. The depth in some areas is over 40 m. For a comfortable stay for tourists, all the necessary conditions have been created here, ranging from huge amount restaurants and cafes, ending with boarding houses where you can get medical treatment. The water is surprisingly clean, pleasant and transparent.

There are several equipped beaches, both paid and free. Vacationers have the opportunity not only to soak in the water, but also to ride on boats, capturing their leisure time in a photo. Virgin nature and fresh air make your holiday even more enjoyable.

Mountain zero Bazaleti is another place that is recommended for tourists to visit in Georgia. Its popularity among vacationers is growing every year. The distance from Tbilisi to this reservoir is quite large - about 60 km. You will have to spend about an hour on the road, but it is worth it.

The water in the marvelous lake is very clean, and the nature is so beautiful that it is simply impossible to take your eyes off the landscapes. But this place is valued not only for its magical views. The reservoir has medicinal properties. It contains algae, which has a healing effect on the body. People come here to be cured of gynecological, rheumatological and dermatological diseases.

Modern boarding houses and sanatoriums located on the shores of the lake offer comprehensive rehabilitation programs. Having become stronger and healthier, tourists can have a good rest. This includes numerous entertainment venues and equipped beach areas.

How to get to Batumi from Tbilisi?

If a person finds himself in Georgia and still does not give up the idea of seeing the sea, this will not cause serious problems. Get from the capital to Batumi - the main seaside resort countries, you can by car, plane, train, bus or minibus. The traveler will have to cover a little more than 370 kilometers. If a tourist goes on a trip by land transport, along the way you can see a lot of beautiful landscapes and attractions.

Not everyone knows which sea washes the shores of Batumi. So, having arrived there, you can bask in the warm waves of the gentle Black Sea. Tourists are waiting cleanest beaches, gentle sunshine and excellent service. Only here tourists can enjoy amazing dishes of Georgian cuisine, which are famous throughout the world. Airy khachapuri, spicy kharcho, delicious satsivi with chicken and the most delicate khinkali will not leave anyone indifferent. You need to be prepared for the fact that a seaside holiday in Georgia will make you forget about your diet.

Batumi is a modern and progressive city. It has everything you need for an unforgettable youth holiday. Numerous nightclubs await guests eagerly. The world's best DJs often perform at their venues. In addition, the Black Sea opens up endless opportunities for tourists active rest. Activities in and around the city include diving and aquatic species sports.

Fans of excursions will also enjoy a holiday by the sea in Batumi. In that ancient city There are many attractions that are definitely worth visiting. The Church of Holy Christ the All-Savior and Cathedral Holy Mother of God, National Museum Adjara, Botanical Garden, numerous monuments and fountains.

Travelers can not only admire the beautiful creations of human hands, but also take wonderful photos that will forever leave memories of their vacation.

Why should you visit Kobuleti?

Besides Batumi, there are many more beautiful resorts that you should definitely visit in Georgia. One of them is Kobuleti. It is a true pearl of Adjara and differs from other similar places in its special microclimate. People come here not only to experience the benefits of sea air, sunbathe on the pebble beach and enjoy the beautiful views.

In Kobuleti you can improve your health. A unique treatment method is widely used here - thalassotherapy, or sea treatment. Experts were able to establish that fresh water improves the metabolic function of the skin by 25% than fresh skin. This property allows you to successfully cope with dermatological diseases.

The resort area is located 20 km from Batumi. Its distinctive features are:

mild subtropical climate;
ionized air;
pine forests.

Add to this the hot sun and warm sea. The result will be beautiful place, suitable for both relaxation and recovery.

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. Otherwise, it’s a great vacation spot 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 highway and the reservoir there is a wonderful Pinery with incredibly tasty air:

E If you have a few days to intensively explore Tbilisi, and you have already seen all the main attractions, then this post is for you. I will tell you about Tbilisi attractions that are located outside the central part of the city, and where you will have to get from the center by taxi or public transport.
WITH Today we have on the program: the Ethnographic Museum and Turtle Lake, Lake Lisi, the Tbilisi Sea and the “Chronicle of Georgia” memorial.

E The tnographic museum is located in the open air, on the outskirts of Tbilisi on the way to Turtle Lake. It is convenient to combine these two attractions. The museum has quite big square, there is a whole village here: various household items from different eras and regions are collected here in hundred-year-old and two-hundred-year-old houses of the same region. The museum bought houses for exhibition, for example, in Adjara, they were carefully dismantled, transported and reassembled on its territory. The interiors, furniture and even personal belongings and photographs of the previous owners in many houses remained the same. That’s how this village was formed with outbuildings, maranis, and vegetable gardens. There is even a Svan tower (modern, though) and a live goat.

IN Each house has its own “mistress” - a guide who will tell you about its former owners, how Georgians lived in past centuries, and demonstrate tools. In the Adjarian part of the museum there is a unique wooden mosque decorated with carvings. And in the Mingrelian house of the museum, bread is baked in a tone (Georgian oven).

Z The museum is open, but only some exhibitions are open. And in the summer, during the tourist season, life is in full swing here, master classes are held: they bake bread, make mchadi, make churchkhelas, and sculpt clay pots. You can get here by taxi from the city, the cost is entrance ticket 3 lari. The museum has a day off on Monday.
GPS 41.704354, 44.744895

L isi is a small and beautiful Tbilisi lake, as well as a popular vacation spot. There are beaches with sun loungers, summer cafes, baths, sports grounds, and a small park. In the summer there is a boat and bicycle rental, go-karting, and rope parks for children and adults. And in winter it is quiet and peaceful. It’s a nice place to take a break from the summer heat or the bustle of the city and feed the ducks.

WITH Now, at the beginning of 2016, the lake is being improved, and by the summer of 2016 there should be a bike path and a circular embankment around the lake. Now the embankment is only on one side of the lake.
The lake is located on the outskirts of Tbilisi, even public transport goes here, for example, bus 29 from the Technical University metro station.
GPS 41.742027, 44.738347

E then the huge memorial “History of Georgia” in Tbilisi, or rather a little behind it, on the shore of the Tbilisi reservoir. The height of the columns is more than 30 meters, they have bas-reliefs depicting Georgian rulers, important events in the history of Georgia, biblical stories. Nearby are statues of the thirteen Assyrian fathers. Sculptor - Zurab Tsereteli, the memorial was opened in 2003. The memorial offers wonderful views of Tbilisi and the reservoir.
The easiest way to get here is by taxi or car. You can also try by public transport, buses 111 and 60 to the “Military School” stop.
GPS 41.770548, 44.810505

A this is the Tbilisi Sea - that’s what the Tbilisi reservoir is called, big lake in the northern suburbs of Tbilisi. The shores of the Tbilisi Sea are both sandy and rocky, with pine trees growing on them, and the water is an unreal turquoise color. The lake is 9 km long and quite deep. This is one of the most popular vacation spots for Tbilisi residents. There is some kind of large recreation center with a water park (we want to explore it in the summer), a yacht club, several cultural paid beaches. You can get there on your own by bus 111 from the station or bus number 60 from Grmageli.
GPS 41.737731, 44.859835 (Waterpark)
A few more photos and that's all for now!

TBILISI, June 15 – Sputnik. Residents and guests of Tbilisi can safely swim in city reservoirs, since the chemical and bacterial parameters of the water meet the standards, Paata Imnadze, scientific director of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, told Sputnik Georgia.

Today, there are three natural reservoirs with beaches in Georgia: Tbilisi Reservoir, Turtle Lake and Lake Lisi.

“According to the latest data (water tests in May - ed.) there are no bacteriological contaminants in the capital’s water bodies. Water indicators are good in the Tbilisi reservoir and on Turtle Lake - everything is normal there. The only thing is that in Lake Lisi the amount of sulfates is increased. In principle, you can swim there safe because there is no bacteriological contamination,” Imnadze said.

The increased concentration of sulfates in Lake Lisi is due to the large amount of vegetation in the lake, he noted.

“This is normal for Lake Lisi, there is always an increased concentration of sulfates. People simply should not swallow this water, sulfates have a laxative effect. This is not fraught with other consequences. Tbilisi residents can safely swim there,” Imnadze said, recalling that sunbathers should know measure.

The National Environmental Agency of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Georgia periodically checks the quality of water in Georgian reservoirs.

"With the beginning swimming season in May we begin checking all three reservoirs of Tbilisi. Samples are taken once a month in the so-called. bathing areas where beaches are organized. The inspection continues until September inclusive,” Marina Arabidze, head of the environmental pollution monitoring department of the National Environmental Agency, told Sputnik Georgia.

According to an inspection in May, the water in Tbilisi reservoirs is not polluted, she emphasized.

“A test was carried out on 23 chemical and three microbiological parameters. No chemical and microbiological pollution was recorded in Tbilisi reservoirs in all respects, although the concentration of sulfates, calcium and magnesium increased in Lake Lisi. The water in the Tbilisi Sea and Turtle Lake fully complied with the standards,” - said Arabidze.

In Lake Lizi, the norm of sulfates was exceeded four times, calcium by 1.8 times, and magnesium by 1.4 times, Arabidze clarified.

“This is quite normal for Lake Lisi, its natural uniqueness,” she explained.

TBILISI RESERVOIR

The Tbilisi reservoir, with an area of about 11.6 square kilometers, is located in the northeastern part of the capital. The maximum depth of the reservoir is 45 meters, the average depth is 26.6 meters. Due to its large size, Tbilisi residents often simply call it the Tbilisi Sea.

This is one of favorite places For beach holiday residents of the capital. Along the shore of the reservoir there are hotels, a yacht club, restaurants, and other recreation areas. However, visitors appreciate this place for fresh air, picturesque nature and calm atmosphere.

LAKE LISY

A small body of water on the outskirts of Tbilisi - the surface area is 0.47 square kilometers, the maximum depth is four meters. The lake is located in the valley of the Kura River and is surrounded by vegetation. The lake is inhabited by fish, so you can meet fishing enthusiasts here.

Around the lake there is a bike path, exercise equipment, a children's playground, and a cafe.

TURTLE LAKE

Turtle Lake is located three kilometers from the center of Tbilisi on the slope of Mount Mtatsminda. The lake lives up to its name - many turtles used to live in these places. The surface area of the reservoir is less than 0.1 square kilometers, the maximum depth is 2.6 meters. There is a pebble beach around the lake.

Lovers of water catamaran trips usually come here. There are not many swimmers here, but there are many attractions, cafes and restaurants, as well as sports grounds along the lake.