| Enguri | |
|---|---|
 The Enguri is the main source of water for theEnguri Dam in Georgia | |
   | |
| Location | |
| Country | Georgia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Main Caucasian Range Caucasus Major |
| Mouth | Black Sea |
• coordinates | 42°23′27″N41°33′33″E / 42.3908°N 41.5592°E /42.3908; 41.5592 |
| Length | 213 km (132 mi) |
| Basin size | 4,060 km2 (1,570 sq mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Mulkhra |
TheEnguri (Georgian:ენგური,romanized:enguri[ˈe̞n̪guɾi],Mingrelian:ინგირი,romanized: ingiri,Abkhaz:Егры,Egry) is a river in westernGeorgia. It is 213 km (132 mi) long, and has adrainage basin of 4,060 km2 (1,570 sq mi).[1] It originates nearUshguli in northeasternSvaneti and plays an important role in providinghydroelectric power to the area and the country.
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The river emerges from the highCaucasus near the highest mountain in Georgia,Shkhara, and winds through the mountain valleys to the northwest before turning southwest to empty into theBlack Sea nearAnaklia.
Since theAbkhaz–Georgian conflict, both Georgia and Abkhazia keep troops on the river;Russia also keepspeacekeeping troops. The only legal crossing-point is the 870-metre (2,850 ft) longEnguri Bridge [ru], which was built by Germanprisoners of war from 1944 until 1948. There are also a number of illegal connections across the river.
The river plays an important role in the Georgian energy production. In 1988 theEnguri Dam was built at a height of 240 metres (790 ft). At 750 metres (2,460 ft) across and 271.5 metres (891 ft) high, it is the largest construction in the Caucasus. The dam has the capacity to hold 1.1 million cubic metres (39,000,000 cu ft) of water. The underground water works produce about 40% of the national energy. The capacity is 1,300 megawatts.
