Tiflis

TIFLIS, the administrative and cultural center of the ZSFSR and the SSR of Georgia, having resort significance. Picturesquely located on both banks of the Kura River in a treeless mountain basin at an altitude of 404 meters above sea level, enclosed on the east by the Makhata ridge, on the south by the Sololaki ridge, and on the west by Mount David. The open position of T. from the north adversely affects its mild climate. T. has been known since ancient times for its sulfur springs and the baths established at them. On both banks of the Kura River there are 31 sources with a huge flow, of which the sources of the right bank, in terms of their chemical composition, belong to the group of Cauterets in the Pyrenees and Bagni di Palaia in Italy. The sources of the left bank of the Kura are similar to the sources of Ems and Baden. The temperature of the sources ranges from 39° to 45°. The content of H₂S is 0.0014-0.0022. The mineralization is not high and does not exceed 0.3 g per 1 liter; pH is 7.7. In T. there is an Institute of Balneology and Physiotherapy, as well as a mud bath treatment facility.