Ochamchire

Ochamchire (Abkhaz: Очамчыра, Ochamchyra; Georgie: ოჩამჩირე, Ochamchire; Roushie: Очамчира, Ochamchira) is a seaside ceety on the Black Sea coast o Abkhazie, Georgie, an a centre o the eponymous destrict.

Population

Accordin tae the 1978 population census, Ochamchire haed 18,700 residents. Efter the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict o 1992-93, Ochamchire experienced a significant population decline due tae ethnic cleansin o Georgians.

Geography

Ochamchire lies alang the left bank o the Ghalidzga (Aaldzga) River at an elevation o five meters abuin sea level. The ceety is locatit 53 kilometers sootheast o Sukhumi an 351 kilometers tae the northwast o Tbilisi. Ochamchire's climate is humid subtropical, wi mild winters an hot summers. The average annual temperature is 13.6 degrees Celsius. Januar's average temperature is 4.5 degrees Celsius while the average temperature in Julie is 23 degrees Celsius. Average annual precipitation is approximately 1300mm.

History

Ochamchire evolved as a toun frae a sma maritime settlement, which wis a scene o fechtin atween the Roushie an Turkis-Abkhaz forces in 1877.

The auncient Greek colony o Gyenos is supposed tae hae locatit near Ochamchire, though the identification canna be considered as definitive acause o doubts as tae the actual location an the vera poor preservation o the archaeologic site itsel.

Accordin tae Itar Tass, Russia plans tae construct a new naval base for its Black Sea Fleet (currently based at Sevastopol) in Ochamchire.

References

• Georgian State (Soviet) Encyclopedia. 1983. Book 7. p. 623.