Iazoni Cave Natural Monument

42°16′19.62″N 42°44′1.63″E / 42.2721167°N 42.7337861°E / 42.2721167; 42.7337861^[1]Established2007Governing bodyAgency of Protected AreasWebsiteIazoni Cave Natural Monument

Iazoni Cave Natural Monument (Georgian: იაზონის მღვიმე) also known as Tskaltsitela Cave^[2] is a karst cave located across the river Tskaltsitela near village Godogni, Terjola Municipality, just outside Kutaisi in Imereti region of Georgia, 135 metres above sea level.^[3] Cave is on the right bank of Tskaltsitela river, the tributary of the Rioni, near Godogni village bridge.

Morphology

Iazoni cave is carved in the Lower Cretaceous limestone, which is a riverbed material. Cave total length is 40 meters. Cave is notable for it arch-shaped ceilings naturally decorated with small stalactites accompanied by stalagmites on the floor. Width of the cave is quickly reduced to 2.5 m at a distance of just 10 m from the entrance and the ceiling height decreases to 0.5 m closer to the cave end section. Silty muck makes cave floor slippery and access to cave difficult.^[4]

Fauna and paleontological findings

The cave provides shelter to various animals.^[2] It is home to troglofauna such as Troglocaris (Xiphocaridinella) kutaissiana (Sadowsky, 1930).^[1] Paleontological findings of animal bones and flint tools established presence of cave dwellers of the Paleolithic Age.^[5]

See also

• Tskaltsitela Gorge Natural Monument

References

National parksStrict Nature ReservesManaged ReservesProtected LandscapesNatural Monuments