Georgia

The mountain villages have defensive towers that date back centuries.

The most famous version, from Adjara, is boat-shaped and topped with an egg.

At a supra, the tamada proposes a series of toasts, and each one has its own traditions.

The capital sits on natural hot springs, and bathhouses with domed roofs stand in the old town.

The name Georgia is used in English, but in Georgian the country is known as Sakartvelo.

The Dmanisi hominins, discovered in Georgia, represent the earliest undisputed evidence of Homo erectus outside of Africa. These skulls, dating back 1.8 million years, shed light on early human migration and evolution.

Despite its famous "Peach State" nickname, Georgia is typically only the third or fourth largest peach producer in the U.S. California and South Carolina often outproduce it. However, Georgia *is* the top producer of pecans!

Krubera Cave, also known as Voronya Cave, located in the Arabika Massif of Abkhazia (a disputed region within Georgia), was long considered the deepest known cave on Earth. It plunges over 2,197 meters (7,208 feet) into the ground.

The Georgian alphabet, known as Mkhedruli, is one of only 14 unique alphabets in the world. It has a distinctive, elegant cursive appearance and is entirely phonetic, making it quite consistent to read once learned.

Archaeological evidence suggests that winemaking originated in Georgia over 8,000 years ago. Traditional Georgian qvevri, large clay vessels buried in the ground, are still used today for fermentation and aging.