Located at the strategically important crossroads of Europe and Asia, Georgia has a unique and ancient cultural heritage, and is famous for its traditions of hospitality and cuisine. A former Soviet Republic for most of the 20th century, Georgia is now an independent country, a member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe.
Georgia is mostly situated in the South Caucasus and most of the country is mountainous. Because of its high landscape diversity and low latitude, Georgia is home to about several species of animals such as brown bears, wolves, lynxes and Caucasian Leopards.
Ethnic Georgians form the majority of Georgia’s population of almost 4 million. Other ethnic groups include Abkhazians, Armenians, Assyrians, Azerbaijanis, Greeks, Jews, Kists, Ossetians, Russians, Ukrainians, Yezidis and others. The Georgian Jews are one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world.
