Lake Ritsa
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Lake Ritsa (Abkhaz Риҵа, Georgian რიწა), located in the northern part of Abkhazia, Georgia, is a beautiful lake in Caucasus Mountains, surrounded by mixed mountain forests and subalpine meadows. Its water is cold and clear. Mountains with heights of 2200 to 3500 m surround the lake. Many specimens of the Nordmann Fir, which reach heights of over 70 meters (230 feet), are found around Lake Ritsa. Six rivers flow into the lake and one flows out (Iupshara River). The resort of Avadhara lies to the north of the Lake.
In 1930 the Ritsa Nature Reserve (16 289 ha.) was established to protect the natural state of the lake and the surrounding nature. The road from the Black Sea coast was built in 1936. The lake was an important tourist attraction during the Soviet period. Despite the fact that there was a hotel built on its shore and couple of other attractions, it is no longer a tourist attraction due to the conflict in the area.
Lake Ritsa is one of the deepest lakes in Georgia (116 m) and rich in trout. The average annual temperature in the area is 7.8 degrees Celsius (January -1.1°C, August 17.8°C). The mean annual precipitation is approx. 2000 - 2200 mm. Winters are sometimes snowy, summers warm.
The Soviet leader Joseph Stalin had one of his summer-houses by the lake.
Data
- coordinates:
- altitude: 950 m (a.s.l.)
- water surface: 1.5 km²
- maximum depth: 116 m
- shoreline: 4.29 km
Sources
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