Lagodekhi Municipality

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Lagodekhi Municipality is in eastern Georgia, in the Kakheti region. It borders Azerbaijan to the east, Kvareli to the west, Dagestan to the north, and Sighnaghi and Gurjaani to the south. The administrative center is the town of Lagodekhi.

The area covers about 890 square kilometers and has around 41,000 residents. Most people are Georgians, with Azerbaijanis making up a significant minority and smaller numbers of Ossetians, Russians, and Armenians.

Government and administration
Lagodekhi has a 30-member local council (Sakrebulo) and an executive City Hall. It is divided into 15 administrative units with 67 settlements in total. Municipal elections are every four years; the last were in 2021. The mayor is Jondo Mdivnishvili.

Economy and services
The economy relies on agriculture (tobacco, grain, grapes, fruit, and livestock) and on tourism. There are tobacco, wine, cheese, and butter producers, along with small businesses. The municipality has 28 public schools and 31 preschools, plus libraries, arts and music schools, theaters, and a museum.

Geography and climate
Lagodekhi has a moderately humid subtropical climate. Winters are cold and summers are hot. Average annual temperature is about 13°C. Rainfall ranges from 650–1080 mm in low areas and 1200–1800 mm in the mountains. The Alazani River and several other rivers run through the area.

Lagodekhi Protected Areas
The municipality includes Lagodekhi Nature Reserve and Lagodekhi Managed Reserve. Five trails wind through the area, including Grouse waterfall, Ninoskhevi waterfall, Machi castle, Black Rock Lake, and a nature interpretation trail. The central entrance houses administration and visitor facilities, plus a museum opened in 1975.

Tourism
Ecotourism and cultural tourism are popular in Lagodekhi. In recent years, thousands of visitors have explored the protected areas annually. There is no dedicated tourist information center; staff from the Protected Areas Administration help plan routes.

History and culture
The name Lagodekhi appears in old chronicles. Notable sites include the St. Theodore Church in Leliani. The Leliani treasure was found there in the 1920s. The area also hosts a variety of cultural and artistic groups and performances.