Batumi 44293 225266168 2008-07-12T19:56:19Z Beagel 2057630 link fixed {{Infobox Settlement |official_name = Batumi <br> ბათუმი |name_local = ბათუმი |image_skyline = Batumi port2.jpg |imagesize = 300px |image_seal = Batumi COA.JPG |pushpin_map = Georgia (country) |mapsize = 280px |map_caption = Location of Batumi in Georgia |subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |subdivision_name = {{GEO}} |subdivision_type1 = Autonomous republic |subdivision_name1 = [[Image:Flag of Ajaria.svg|23px|Adjara]] [[Adjara]] |leader_title = [[Mayor]] |leader_name = [[Robert Chkhaidze]] |area_magnitude = 1 E9 |area_total_km2 = |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |population_as_of = 2002 |population_footnotes = |population_total = 121,806 |population_metro = |population_density_km2 = |timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]] |utc_offset = +4 |timezone_DST = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]] |utc_offset_DST = |latd=41 |latm=39 |lats=0 |latNS=N |longd=41 |longm=39 |longs=0 |longEW=E |elevation_m = 0 |website = |footnotes = }} '''Batumi''' ({{lang-ka|ბათუმი}}, formerly '''Batum''' or '''Batoum''') is a seaside city on the [[Black Sea]] coast and [[capital]] of [[Adjara]], an [[autonomous republic]] in southwest [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. It has a population of 121,806 ([[2002]] census). Batumi, with its large port and commercial center, is also the last stop of the [[Transcaucasian railroad]] and the [[Baku-Batumi pipeline|Baku oil pipeline]]. It is situated some 20 km (12 mi) from the [[Turkey|Turkish]] border, in a subtropical zone, rich in [[citrus]] fruit and [[tea]]. Industries included [[shipbuilding]], food processing, and light manufacturing. ==History== {{main|History of Batumi}} ===Early history=== Batumi is located on the site of the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] colony in [[Colchis]] called Bathus or Bathys - derived from the Greek phrase ''bathus limen'' or ''bathys limin'' meaning "deep harbour". Under [[Hadrian]] (r. 117-138 AD), it was converted into a fortified [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] port later deserted for the fortress of [[Tsikhisdziri|Petra]] founded in the times of [[Justinian I]] (r. 527-565). Garrisoned by the Roman/[[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] forces, it was formally a possession of the kingdom of [[Lazica]] until being occupied briefly by the [[Arabs]] who did not hold it; in the 9th century it formed part of the [[Bagrationi Dynasty|Bagratid]] monarchy of [[Tao-Klarjeti]], and at the close of the 10th century of the unified [[kingdom of Georgia]] which succeeded it. From 1010, it was governed by the [[eristavi]] (viceroy) of the king of Georgia. In the late 14th century, after the disintegration of the Georgian kingdom, Batumi passed to the princes ([[mtavari]]) of [[Principality of Guria|Guria]], a western Georgian principality under the nominal sovereignty of the [[Kingdom of Imereti|kings of Imereti]]. [[Image:Streets of Batumii.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Streets of Batumi]] A curious incident occurred in 1444 when the [[Burgundy|Burgundian]] flotilla, after a failed [[crusade]] against the [[Ottoman Empire]], penetrated the Black Sea and engaged in piracy along its eastern coastline until the Burgundians under the knight [[Geoffroy de Thoisy]] were ambushed during their landing raid at the port of Vaty as Europeans then knew Batumi. De Thoisy was taken captive and released through the mediation of the [[Empire of Trebizond|emperor]] [[John IV of Trebizond]]. In the 15th century, in the reign of the prince Kakhaber Gurieli, the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]] occupied the town and its district, but did not hold them. They returned in force a century later after the decisive defeat which they inflicted on the Georgian and Imeretian armies at [[Battle of Sokhoista|Sokhoista]]. Batumi was recaptured, first by the prince Rostom Gurieli in 1564, who lost it soon afterwards, and again in 1609 by Mamia Gurieli. Since 1627 Batumi was part of the Ottoman Empire. With the Turkish conquest the [[Islamisation]] of the Adjara region, hitherto Christian began. It was completed by the end of the 18th century. Under the Turks, Batumi, a large fortified town (2,000 inhabitants in 1807 and more than 5,000 in 1877) was already an active port, the principle centre of the [[Transcaucasia]]n slave-trade. ===Imperial Russian rule=== [[Image:Batum.jpg|thumb|250px|Port of Batumi in 1881.]] In 1878, Batumi was annexed by the [[Russian Empire]] in accordance with [[Treaty of San Stefano]] between Russia and the Ottoman Empire (ratified on March 23). In exchange, according to a secret Anglo-Ottoman [[Cyprus Convention]], the British were to be allowed to occupy [[Cyprus]] - ''Cuprum probatum''.<ref>Zaim M. Necatigil (1993), ''The Cyprus Question and the Turkish Position in International Law'', p. 3. [[Oxford University Press]], ISBN 0198258461.</ref> Occupied by the Russians on 28 August 1878, the town was declared a [[free port]] until 1886. It functioned as a center of a special military district until being incoprorated in the Government of [[Kutaisi]] on June 12 1883. Finally, on 1 June 1903, with the [[Okrug]] of [[Artvin]], it was established as the region ([[oblast]]) of Batumi placed under the direct control of the General Government of Georgia. The expansion of Batumi began in 1883 with the construction of the Batumi-Tiflis-Baku railway completed in 1900 by the finishing of the Baku-Batumi pipe-line. Henceforth Batumi became the chief Russian oil port in the Black Sea. The town expanded to an extraordinary extent and the population increased very rapidly: 8,671 inhabitants in 1882, and 12,000 in 1889. ===War, Communism and Independence=== [[Image:Batumi port Barry Kent.JPG.JPG|thumb|250px|Port in Batumi]] During [[1901]], 16 years prior to the [[Russian Revolution of 1917|Russian Revolution]], [[Joseph Stalin]] the future leader of the Soviet Union, lived in the city organizing strikes. Unrest during [[World War I]] led to Turkey re-entering in April [[1918]], followed by the British in December, who stayed until July [[1920]]. [[Kemal Atatürk]] then ceded it to the [[Bolshevik]]s, on the condition that it be granted autonomy, for the sake of the [[Muslim]]s among Batumi's mixed population. When the [[USSR]] collapsed, [[Aslan Abashidze]] was appointed head of Adjara's governing council and subsequently held onto power throughout the unrest of the 1990s. Whilst other regions, such as [[Abkhazia]], attempted to break away from the Georgian state, Adjara maintained an integral part of the Republic's territory. However due to a fragile security situation, Abashidze was able to exploit the [[central government]]'s weaknesses and rule the area as a personal [[fiefdom]]. In May 2004 he fled the region to Russia as a result of mass protests sparked by the [[Rose Revolution]] in [[Tbilisi]]. ===Present Day=== Batumi today is the main port of Georgia. It has the capacity for 80,000-tonne tankers to take materials such as oil. This oil originates from Azerbaijan and is shipped all over the world. Smaller oil exports also come from [[Kazakhstan]] and [[Turkmenistan]]. Additionally the city exports regional agricultural products. Since [[1995]] the freight conversion of the port has constantly risen, with an approximate 8 million tonnes in [[2001]]. The annual revenue from the port is estimated at between $200 million and $300 million. Since the change of power in Ajara, Batumi has attracted several international investors with real estate prices in the city trebling since 2001. Kazakh investors have reportedly invested $100 million to purchase more than 20 hotels in the Ajara region of Georgia. Construction of a number of new hotels will be launched in Ajara’s Black Sea resorts starting from [[2007]]. Batumi was also host to the Russian [[12th Military Base]]. Following the Rose Revolution, the central government pushed for the removal of these forces, and in 2005 an agreement with [[Moscow]] was reached. According to the agreement, the process of withdrawal was planned to be completed in a course of 2008, but the Batumi base was officially handed over to Georgia on [[November 13]], [[2007]], ahead of planned schedule.<ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16321 Russia Hands Over Batumi Military Base to Georgia]. Civil Georgia, Tbilisi. 2007-11-13.</ref> ==Climate== [[Image:Batumi University Fontain.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Shota Rustaveli State University|Batumi University]] Fountain]] Batumi lies at the northern periphery of the [[humid subtropical]] zone. Batumi's climate is heavily influenced by the onshore flow from the Black Sea and the city is subject to the [[orographic|orographic effect]] of the nearby hills and mountains, resulting in significant rainfall throughout most of the year, making Batumi the wettest city in both [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and the entire [[Caucasus]] Region. The average annual temperature in Batumi is approximately 14.5 degrees Celsius. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 7.1 degrees Celsius. August is the hottest month with an average temperature of 25.2 degrees Celsius and highest temperature reaches 32.5 degrees Celsius. The absolute minimum recorded temperature is -9 degrees Celsius and the absolute maximum is 41 degrees Celsius. The number of days with temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius is 239. The city receives 1958 hours of sunshine per year. Batumi's average annual precipitation is 2,718mm. (107.0in.). September is the wettest month with an average of 335mm. (13.19in.) of precipitation, while May is the driest, averaging 92mm (3.62in.). Batumi generally does not receive significant amounts of snow (accumulating snowfall of more than 30cm.) and the number of days with snow cover for the year is 12. The average level of humidity ranges from 70-80%. {| class="wikitable" ! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Month ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jan ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Feb ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Mar ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Apr ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | May ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jun ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jul ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Aug ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Sep ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Oct ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Nov ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Dec ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Year |- ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Average Temperature °C (°F) | style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 7.1 (44.7) | style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 7.2 (45) | style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 8.4 (47.1) | style="background: #FFCC00; color: black;" | 11.5 (52.7) | style="background: #FFCC00; color: black;" | 20.8 (60.4) | style="background: #FF9900; color: black;" | 22.5 (68) | style="background: #FF9900; color: black;" | 27.8 (73) | style="background: #FF9900; color: black;" | 27.2 (73.8) | style="background: #FF9900; color: black;" | 25.3 (68.5) | style="background: #FFCC00; color: black;" | 16.6 (61.9) | style="background: #FFCC00; color: black;" | 12 (53.6) | style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 8.6 (47.5) | style="background: #FFCC00; color: black;" | 14.5 (58.1) |- ! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Average rainfall: millimeters (inches) | style="background: #2288BB;" | 281 (11.06) | style="background: #44AADD;" | 228 (8.98) | style="background: #66CCFF;" | 174 (6.85) | style="background: #66CCFF;" | 122 (4.80) | style="background: #66CCFF;" | 92 (3.62) | style="background: #66CCFF;" | 163 (6.42) | style="background: #44AADD;" | 182 (7.16) | style="background: #2288BB;" | 255 (10.04) | style="background: #2288BB;" | 335 (13.19) | style="background: #2288BB;" | 306 (12.05) | style="background: #2288BB;" | 304 (11.97) | style="background: #2288BB;" | 276 (10.87) | style="background: #44AADD;" | 2,718 (107.01) |} ==Transportation== The city is served by [[Batumi Airport]], one of three international airports in the country. ==Demographics and religion == [[image:Bstumi Plage.jpg|thumb|250px|A quay in Batumi.]] According to the 2002 Georgian census, Batumi had a population of 121,806 with [[population density]] of 7293.8 per km<sup>2</sup>. Ethnic groups include: *[[Georgians]] - 104,313 *[[Armenians]] - 7,517 *[[Russians]] - 6,300 *[[Abkhaz people|Abkhaz]] - 800 *[[Ukrainians]] - 770 *[[Greeks]] - 587 *[[Azerbaijani people|Azerbaijani]] - 301 *[[Ossetians]] - 142 *[[Yazidi]] - 69 *[[Kists]] - 8.<ref>[http://www.statistics.ge/_files/english/census/2002/Ethnic%20groups.pdf Georgia Census 2002: Ethnic group by major administrative-territorial units]. State Departments of Statistics of Georgia. Accessed [[October 11]], [[2007]].</ref> ==Landmarks== Attractions include the [[Adjara State Museum]], [[Batumi Botanical Garden]], which were started by professor Krasnov (brother of the general [[Pyotr Krasnov]]), [[aquarium]], [[Circus (performing art)|circus]], and a former resort area along the Black Sea coast. == Postage stamps ==<!-- This section is linked from [[List of entities that have issued postage stamps (A - E)]] --> {{main|Postage stamps of Batum under British occupation}} ==Sister Cities== * {{flagicon|Armenia}} [[Vanadzor]], [[Armenia]] (2006) * {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Piraeus]], [[Greece]] (1996) * {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Bari]], [[Italy]] (1987) * {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Kislovodsk]], [[Russia]] (1997) * {{flagicon|USA}} [[Savannah, Georgia]], [[United States|USA]] * {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Donostia-San Sebastian]], [[Spain]] (1987) * {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Trabzon]], [[Turkey]] (2000) ==Notable people== Notable people who are from or have resided in Batumi: * [[Sopho Khalvashi]], first Georgian entrant to the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2007]] * [[Katie Melua]], singer * [[Arkady and Boris Strugatsky]], science fiction authors * [[William Horwood Stuart]], British diplomat who was murdered here in 1906 * [[Fyodor Yurchikhin]], astronaut * [[Valery Meladze]], singer * [[Odysseas Dimitriadis]] ([[1908]]-[[2005]]) Greek-Soviet music conductor == References == {{reflist|2}} *''Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia.'' Georgian SSR (Supplementary Edition). 1981. pp. 16-18. == External links == {{Commonscat|Batumi}} *[http://www.batumi.ge/ Official website of Batumi] *[http://www.world66.com/europe/georgia/batumi Batumi Travel Guide] *[http://www.batumiport.com/en/index.html Batumi Sea Trading Port] *[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S?pp/prok:@field(SUBJ+@od1(Georgia++Republic+--Batumi+)) Prokudin-Gorskii color photos of Batumi circa 1910] *[http://www.caucasus-pictures.blogspot.com/search/label/Batumi Photos of Batumi] *[http://www.batumionline.net/ Batumi From The Inside] {{coor title dm|41|39|N|41|39|E|type:city}} [[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Georgia (country)]] [[Category:Ancient Greek cities]] [[Category:Adjara]] [[Category:Pontus]] [[Category:Port cities in Europe]] [[Category:Port cities in Asia]] [[Category:Black Sea]] {{Link FA|ka}} [[bg:Батуми]] [[ca:Batum]] [[cs:Batumi]] [[da:Batumi]] [[de:Batumi]] [[et:Bathumi]] [[es:Batum]] [[eo:Batumi]] [[fa:باتومی]] [[fr:Batoumi]] [[fy:Batûm]] [[ko:바투미]] [[id:Batumi]] [[it:Batumi]] [[he:בתומי]] [[ka:ბათუმი]] [[lt:Batumis]] [[hu:Batumi]] [[nl:Batoemi]] [[ja:バトゥミ]] [[no:Batumi]] [[nn:Batumi]] [[pl:Batumi]] [[pt:Batumi]] [[ro:Batumi]] [[ru:Батуми]] [[sl:Batumi]] [[fi:Batumi]] [[sv:Batumi]] [[tr:Batum]] [[uk:Батумі]] [[vo:Batumi]] [[zh:巴统]]