The Great Liakhvi (Georgian: დიდი ლიახვი Didi Liakhvi, Ossetian: Стыр Леуахи, Styr Lewakhi) is a river in central Georgia, which rises on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in the de facto independent region of South Ossetia and flows into the Kura (Mtkvari). It is 115 km (71 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 2,311 km2 (892 sq mi).[2] The cities of Tskhinvali and Gori lie along the banks of the Great Liakhvi. The river is mainly fed by the melting snows and glacier runoff of the Caucasus Mountains as well as by underground water sources. The Liakhvi reaches its highest water volume in the spring and summer while the lowest volume is recorded in the winter, when some segments of the river freeze over.

Great Liakhvi
Great Liakhvi in Gori
Map
Native nameლიახვი (Georgian)
Location
CountryGeorgia (South Ossetia)[1]
Physical characteristics
MouthKura (Mtkvari)
 • coordinates
41°58′23″N 44°06′29″E / 41.97306°N 44.10806°E / 41.97306; 44.10806
Length115 km (71 mi)
Basin size2,311 km2 (892 sq mi)
Basin features
ProgressionKuraCaspian Sea
Tributaries 
 • leftLittle Liakhvi
Liakhvi River basin

The Little Liakhvi is a left-bank tributary.

References

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  1. ^ South Ossetia's status is disputed. It considers itself to be an independent state, but this is recognised by only a few other countries. The Georgian government and most of the world's other states consider South Ossetia de jure a part of Georgia's territory.
  2. ^ Большая Лиахви, Great Soviet Encyclopedia