Supporting People, Conserving Nature, In The Caucasus
 

PEOPLE, HISTORY AND CULTURE

History

Humans have inhabited the Caucasus for many millennia. Legions of rulers and government regimes have vied for control of the region and its rich natural and cultural resources – from Romans to Mongols to Persians to Ottoman Turks to Russians. Most recently, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia were all republics of the Soviet Union; they have only existed as independent nations since the early 1990s. Since gaining their independence, the region has been plagued by violent ethnic conflicts—notably in Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia and Abkhazia—which remain unresolved and are current sources of tension between the countries.


Culture and languages

The Caucasus is a mosaic of ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity. A multitude of languages can be heard in the region, including Russian, Armenian, Azeri, Georgian, Yezidi, Abkhaz, Lezgi and others. Christianity and Islam are practiced side by side, and while differences in religious beliefs are generally tolerated, historically, religion has been the reason for many ethnic skirmishes. Though they share a common history, the three South Caucasus countries have forged very distinct and proud identities.

A population of 16.8 million lives in the three countries. In the Caucasus ecoregion as a whole, there are some 35 million people, about half in rural areas. The region has a relatively low population density of 60 people per square kilometer (this compares to 169 people per square kilometer in western Europe and 31 people per square kilometer in the continental US). High migration rates are characteristic for the entire region. The majority of the population in rural areas lives below the poverty level.

Key Statistics: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia


CAPITAL CITY Yerevan
TOTAL
POPULATION		 3,259,000
TOTAL AREA 29,743 km2
TOTAL AREA
PROTECTED		 388,363 ha
HIGHEST PEAK Mount Aragats (4090 meters)             
MORE INFORMATION www.armeniainfo.am



CAPITAL CITY Baku
TOTAL
POPULATION		 9,047,000
TOTAL AREA 86,600 km2
TOTAL AREA
PROTECTED		 >800,000 ha
HIGHEST PEAK Mount Bazarduzu Dagi (4466 meters)
MORE INFORMATION www.mct.gov.az



CAPITAL CITY Tbilisi
TOTAL
POPULATION		 4,636,000
TOTAL AREA 69,700 km2
TOTAL AREA
PROTECTED		 493,989 ha
HIGHEST PEAK Mount Shkhara (5068 meters)            
MORE INFORMATION www.georgia.travel