Alazani

The upper reaches of the Alazani in the Great Caucasus from the sky

Course of Alazani in the northern basin of the Kura

Template: Infobox River / Obsolete

The Alazani (Georgian ალაზანი ) is a river in the Caucasus. He is one of the main tributaries of the Kura in eastern Georgia. It is 351 km long and forms in its lower reaches the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan. In Mingəçevir Reservoir it flows into the Kura.

The river arises in the Great Caucasus from the confluence of two south of the ridge springing smaller rivers. It flows first to the city Akhmeta south, then through the fertile Alazani basin, a center of Georgian viticulture, which for centuries was a main gateway for Persian invaders, to the southeast.

In winter, the Alazani dries out in late spring it swells through the melting snow in the mountains enormously, causing regular flooding. It is mainly used for irrigation of crops and drinking water supply. Along the river course set up Chinese investors in the 1990s, several smaller hydroelectric power plants, which use the high flow rate of the Alazani. The tourism industry offers rafting trips on the river.

A slight contamination of the river with biological substances is due to insufficient treated wastewater from cities and towns as well as from farms forth. In the districts Kvareli and Lagodechi poor water quality was found.

Alazani also serves as the name of various Georgian wines, including the semi-arid Marani Brands Alazani Valley, and Old Tbilisi Alazani, as well as the lovely Binekhi Alazani Valley. This valley is famous for the cultivation of other popular wines like dry white wine Tsinandali.