How to get to the Tbilisi Sea from Tbilisi. Essays on life, food, friends and travel

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. storehouse architectural solutions. Georgian balconies, which the residents themselves build on different floors, no longer surprise me, but here this phenomenon has acquired a truly grotesque form.

Entire rooms are attached to an ordinary apartment building.

Moreover, construction may not begin at all from the first floor. An exciting spectacle.

I went up Mukhrani Street to the northern part of the Tbilisi reservoir. The road goes up almost all the time. Another charger :)

Once there were 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 was formed (in some places the depth reaches 45 meters).

This is one of the three lakes (along with Turtle Lake and Lisi Lake) within the boundaries of Tbilisi. The largest of them.

On the hill you can see the memorial "History of Georgia" by Zurab Tsereteli. From afar, it looks like Stonehenge :)

I read that the Tbilisi Sea is popular with locals as a place summer holidays. Maybe. But in general Northern part the lake is a depressing sight.

The remains of the boarding house "Golden Fleece", owned in the Soviet years by the bureau of international youth tourism "Sputnik".

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 bred a rare srach. How is that possible?! Some pigs.

Having made his way through the mountains of garbage, used napkins and condoms (I'll leave it all behind the scenes), he climbed a neighboring hill. But this is even worse :(

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

Be stunned, 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 potholes have already appeared. A torn bumper was seen next to one of these pits. The lake beckons people, beckons.

Nature is beautiful. If you remove all the garbage from here, take out the concrete fragments somewhere, it would turn out to be a very nice place.

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

Water park next to the lake.

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

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

On the way I had lunch at roadside cafe. It is not marked on the map in any way, all the inscriptions are in Georgian. Purely for locals. Tourists obviously rarely wander here :) From the first day in Tbilisi, I wanted to visit such a place. Class!

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

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

As opposed to the glass police stations - a strange house with no windows :)

School bus.

During the 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 is like that.

Strange thing on the hill.

Another one interesting feature Georgian self-construction: conversion of balconies into rooms and reduction of the glazing area of apartments.

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

Everyone copes with improvised materials: what I have, I mold from it. Of course, there is no talk of symmetry. Judging by the pipes brought outside, there is a suspicion that stoves have been installed in some of the apartments.

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

The weather has turned bad. Pushing through impudent begging children near the metro, I went to rest in a hotel, gain strength before Mtskheta.

Is it a shame to look on social networks at the happy faces of friends sunbathing on the Black Sea, when you yourself have to spend hot summer days in stuffy Tbilisi? There is a way out, not even one! You also have a place to relax, sunbathe on sun loungers, breathe fresh air and take a couple of enviable selfies without leaving the city.

1. Lake Lisi. Now there is a well-maintained beach, you can rent sun loungers (the cost is from 5 to 10 GEL). On the beach line there is a lounge cafe, a coffee shop where you can have a bite to eat, several booths with cold drinks. Ice cream, sunflower seeds and boiled corn are carried along the beach. On the other side, unsuitable for swimming and sunbathing, fishermen can often be seen (and joined). A little further away you can feed the ducks. When the sun bakes unbearably, vacationers usually move to the woods, a few tens of meters from beach area. There, children and adults play outdoor games or have picnics. By the way, few people know, but on the territory of Lake Lisi there is also a well-equipped complex of sulfur baths (1), (2). The only inconvenience is the lack of parking and frequent traffic flow. Wait fixed-route taxi or bus will take 10 to 40 minutes.

2.turtle lake. There are paid (5 GEL - sun loungers are included in the price) and free beaches. Unlike Lisi, where it is rather shallow, on Turtle the buoys are located close to the shore. Vigilant lifeguards work on the lake and give long reprimands to those who break the rule and swim behind the buoys. Here you can rent boats and children's boats (within 5 GEL), there are a lot of cafes and restaurants around the reservoir. There are also children's sports grounds, sometimes concerts are held in the evenings. As near Lisi, there is a forest close to the shore of Turtle Lake. And yet, 1 km from it is the Ethnographic Museum. You can get to Turtle by car in ten minutes from the Vake district.

3. White or Large(old name) lake in Gldani. Entrance to the paid beach costs 3 GEL (includes a sun lounger). The second side is called free, but, nevertheless, you need to pay 1 GEL for entry. The water is not very clean. There is a cafe, but they do not function. True, there are slides for children, but also not in the best condition. But on the other hand, this place is very suitable for fishing (3). From Gldani, a minibus number 180 goes straight to the reservoir.

4. Tbilisi Sea. There are no road problems here. Transport is good. The most popular beach is from the Temka area. The Olympic village has already been built here, and the zoo will be moved in the near future. Various goodies are carried along the beach, there are also many cafes and restaurants, a playground and a forest. You can ride boats and boats. There is also a paid beach (15 GEL), it is located further - towards the Lotkin district, although it is better to swim on a free one. But in the paid zone there is a clean pool, though not deep (4).

Since we are talking about places suitable for swimming, I will also say about the lake, located near Tbilisi.

5. Lake Bazaleti. It is located 45 minutes drive from Tbilisi. You can get from Tbilisi by car or by minibus to Dusheti, and from there you can get there by taxi, train or bus in 10 minutes. The air in these places is very good, the territory is more designed for tourists. There is a hotel and a residential complex for camps. There is a large playground for children. The water in the lake is clean, almost transparent.

Well, if you can’t get beyond the center or the Old Town, but you want to swim, look for fountains! Yes, in fact, there are no bans and fines for this in Georgia! You can see for yourself: walk by the fountain near the Rustaveli metro station in Rike Park - you will see many happy faces escaping from the heat!

Where to swim in Tbilisi (map)

E If you have a few days for an intensive study of Tbilisi, and you have already seen all the main sights, 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 have to get from the center by taxi or public transport.
WITH Today we have in the program: the ethnographic museum and Turtle Lake, Lisi Lake, the Tbilisi Sea and the memorial "Chronicle of Georgia".

E The ethnographic museum is located in the open air, on the outskirts of Tbilisi, on the way to the Turtle Lake. These two attractions are convenient to combine. The museum has a rather large area, there is a whole village here: various household items from different eras and regions are collected here in centennial and bicentennial houses of the same region. The museum bought houses for exposition, for example, in Adjara, they were carefully dismantled, transported and assembled again on its territory. The interiors, furniture and even personal belongings and photographs of the previous owners in many houses have remained the same. And so this village was formed with outbuildings, marani, vegetable gardens. There is even a Svan tower (modern, true) and a live goat.

IN each house has its own "mistress" - a guide who will tell about its former owners, and 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 Megrelian house of the museum in the tone (Georgian oven) bread is baked.

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

L Isi is a small and beautiful Tbilisi lake, as well as a popular holiday destination. There are beaches with sun loungers, summer cafes, baths, sports grounds, a small park. In summer, boat and bike rentals, karting, rope parks for children and adults work here. And in winter it is quiet and calm. Here it is nice to take a break from the summer heat or from the bustle of the city, feed the ducks.

WITH Now, at the beginning of 2016, the lake is being ennobled, 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 city transport runs here, for example, the 29th bus from the Technical University metro station.
GPS 41.742027, 44.738347

E then a huge memorial "History of Georgia" in Tbilisi, or rather a little behind it, on the banks 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 the 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 public transport, buses 111 and 60 to the stop "Military School".
GPS 41.770548, 44.810505

A this is the Tbilisi Sea - this is the name of the Tbilisi reservoir, big lake in the northern suburbs of Tbilisi. The shores of the Tbilisi Sea are both sandy and rocky, pine trees grow 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 holiday destinations for Tbilisi residents. There is some big base recreation with a water park (we want to explore in the summer), a yacht club, several cultivated paid beaches. You can get there on your own by buses 111 from the station or by number 60 from Grmageli.
GPS 41.737731, 44.859835 (Aquapark)
A few more photos - and that's it for now!

In Georgia, you can relax no worse than on European resorts, there is a sea here. However, many locals prefer not to choose the Black Sea, which you have already thought about, but the reservoir, which is located in the capital of this state. It is located within the city of Tbilisi. Georgians call it none other than the Tbilisi Sea. Why? What is special about this reservoir?
The reservoir is located in the northeastern part of Tbilisi, next to the national park. This artificial reservoir was created in 1952. He appeared after the waters from the river Iori flooded 3 salt lakes which, having united, formed the Tbilisi Sea. The length of the reservoir is 9 km. On average, its width is 3 km. But if you study the depth, it becomes clear why the locals called the reservoir the sea. In some places, the bottom moves away from the surface of the water by 45 m. However, the average depth is 26 m.
Despite their size, water levels often fluctuate seasonally. Replenishment occurs in summer, autumn and spring. The amplitude of water fluctuation reaches 10 m. The Tbilisi Sea is fed mainly by the resources of the Iori River. Water enters it through the Samgori Canal. The reservoir itself is part of the irrigation system and is actively used for irrigation of nearby lands.
In the summer season there are always a lot of vacationers here, it's easy to explain. By July, the water in the reservoir warms up to + 28 ° С. Swimming is very comfortable. However, this is not the only advantage. The Tbilisi Sea is located at an altitude of 535 m above sea level, therefore, in summer time year here is not hot and stuffy.
In winter, the reservoir does not freeze. Although, according to official historical information, the reservoir is subjected to glaciation every 20-30 years. Such natural anomalies were recorded in 1992 and 2012. There is also information that freezing occurred in the first half of the 60s.
Since the day of its foundation, the Tbilisi Sea has attracted residents of the capital and visitors as a pleasant place to relax. To date, the western and northern banks of the reservoir have been landscaped. Many entertainment facilities have been built and put into operation here. For enjoy your holiday built here big water park which fully complies with European standards. It is considered the largest regional institution of this type. The water park has 12 different pools with salt and fresh water. The slides have a height of up to 31 m. There are 6 of them in total on the territory. There is also a ship equipped with a jacuzzi, and on its deck guests are offered delicious cocktails.
In addition to the water park, the Olympic Village was built on the Tbilisi Reservoir in 2015. It was here that the Youth Olympic Games were held. Many houses have been built on the territory of the village, which can accommodate up to three thousand athletes. When arranging this area, all aspects were taken into account in order to provide guests with maximum comfort during training and for a good rest.
There are private areas with a paid stay for vacationers, where there is parking, restaurants, equipped beaches, boat trips on scooters and catamarans, and much more with the maximum level of comfort.
The shores on free beaches are different, depending on the location. On the northern coast, the entrance to the water is gentle, and on the western coast, the coast consists of rocks, so you have to go down into the water along rocky paths, or dive into the depths from a height. Landscaping has not yet reached the southwestern shore, and many local residents go down to the water here by car. Even on weekday evenings in the summer there are a lot of people here. The bottom is rocky, and the depth is shallow. Nearby is an island that turns into a peninsula in summer. Many fish here. The southern and eastern shores are mostly not used by the locals for recreation, as they are heavily silted up and cattle often graze here.
With all the advantages, the Tbilisi Sea has one significant drawback - urban transport does not go to it. but maybe it's for the best! Only the northern part of the sea can be reached on foot from the nearest metro station, to all the rest - only by car. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from the center of the capital to the reservoir.

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TBILISI, June 15 - Sputnik. Residents and guests of Tbilisi can safely swim in the city's reservoirs, as 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 Lisi lake.

"According to the latest data (water tests in May - ed.), there are no bacteriological pollution in the reservoirs of the capital. Water indicators are good in the Tbilisi reservoir and turtle lake- there everything is normal. The only thing is that the amount of sulfates is increased in Lisi Lake. In principle, it is safe to swim there, because there is no bacteriological contamination," Imnadze said.

The increased concentration of sulfates in Lake Lisi is explained by big amount vegetation in this lake, he noted.

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

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

"With the beginning of the swimming season in May, we begin to check all three reservoirs of Tbilisi. Samples are taken once a month in the so-called bathing areas where beaches are organized. The check continues until September inclusive," the head of the National Environmental Pollution Monitoring Department told Sputnik Georgia. environmental agency Marina Arabidze.

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

"A check was carried out on 23 chemical and three microbiological parameters. Chemical and microbiological pollution were not recorded in Tbilisi water bodies in all respects, although the concentration of sulfates, calcium and magnesium increased in Lisi Lake. The water in the Tbilisi Sea and Turtle Lake fully complied with the standards," Arabidze said.

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

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

TBILISI RESERVOIR

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

This is one of favorite places For beach holiday residents of the capital. Hotels, a yacht club, restaurants, and other recreation areas operate along the shore of the reservoir. However, visitors appreciate this place for clean air, picturesque nature and a calm atmosphere.

LAKE LISI

A small reservoir 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. Fish live in the lake, so you can meet fishing enthusiasts here.

Around the lake there is a bike path, exercise equipment, a playground, a cafe.

TURTLE LAKE

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

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