THE NATURAL RESOURCES POTENTIAL AND PECULARITIES OF THEIR EXPLOITATION IN MOUTAINOUS REGIONS (THE CASE OF KVEMO RACHA, GEORGIA)

To reveal natural resources of a region it is causally necessary to reveal and describe certain landscapes as far as they are means of manifesting natural resources. Besides they are subject of study of land management. It is important to identify resource potential and current state of landscapes and each of their components. Landscapes occupy certain areas which are characterized with certain natural conditions and, obviously, different natural potential. To study the above issues, we selected mountainous region of Kvemo Racha (Ambrolauri Municipality of Georgia). For the studies, together with literary material and different sources, we used cartographic material, the landscape maps (1970, 1983) and the topographic map (scale; 1:50000) of Georgia and Transcaucasia and the observation materials of the field expedition made in 2019 in Kvemo Racha. We constructed a large-scale landscape map for Kvemo Racha (Ambrolauri Municipality) by GIS (geographic information system) technology. The work describes individual natural components of landscapes and resource potential of the distinguished landscapes. The data on mineral resources, climate and agro-climate, soil and forest resources are given in the table and diagrams. Among the landscapes distinguished as a result of comprehensive studies, the landscapes in the Racha Depression on the right and left banks of the river Rioni have especially great potential. These landscapes are located on either sides of the Rioni river gorge, though the landscape on the right bank of the river is especially distinguished. This is Racha Depression with a synclinal river gorge, river terraces, juts at some places, humus-carbonate soils. It is a specific micro-zone on the southern slope of the Lechkhumi Ridge (450-750 m above sea level), with unique vine species (Aleksandrouli, Mujuretuli, Shavi (black) Kapistoni), which are used to produce naturally sweet and semisweet “Khvanchkara” type red wines known world-wide. The wealth of Racha – forest landscapes are also noteworthy as some of them have industrial, others have recreational and ecological resources and are of high significance for preserving the biodiversity in the region.