Seasonal Ice Caves of Georgia

Tamaz Karalashvili; Nana Bolashvili; Kukuri Tsikarishvili; Vakhtang Geladze

doi:10.52340/ggj.2025.05.03.04

Seasonal Ice Caves of Georgia

Authors

Tamaz Karalashvili Tbilisi State University
Nana Bolashvili Tbilisi State University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9854-2614
Kukuri Tsikarishvili Tbilisi State University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5791-9286
Vakhtang Geladze Tbilisi State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52340/ggj.2025.05.03.04

Keywords:

Natural freezers, seasonal ice caves, mystical caves

Abstract

This article examines the seasonal ice caves of Georgia, unique physical and geographical formations in which ice forms during summer and melts in winter. Similar phenomena, known as seasonal ice caves, occur in many countries worldwide and are characterised by ice accumulation during warm periods and comparatively higher internal temperatures during cold winters. This unusual behaviour has not yet been fully explained scientifically and is therefore often described by local populations as “mystical”. The study presents case analyses of the Khorkhebi, Khiza, and Khikhadziri seasonal ice caves. The aim of the article is to raise awareness of the existence of seasonal ice caves among both the scientific community and the general public and to provide a foundation for potential future research collaboration.

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Author Biographies

Tamaz Karalashvili, Tbilisi State University

^{TSU, Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Tbilisi, Georgia}

Nana Bolashvili, Tbilisi State University

^{TSU, Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Tbilisi, Georgia}

Kukuri Tsikarishvili, Tbilisi State University

^{TSU, Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Tbilisi, Georgia}

Vakhtang Geladze, Tbilisi State University

^{TSU, Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Tbilisi, Georgia}

References

Bagrationi, V. (1997). Geography of Georgia. Tbilisi. (In Georgian)

Kiknadze, T. Z. (1963). Formation of cave ice in the karst abyss of Vakhushti Bagrationi. Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the GSSR, 31(2), 325–331. (In Russian)

Kipiani, Sh. (1976). Patterns of distribution of ice and snow caves in Georgia. Caves of Georgia, 91–99. (In Georgian)

Patowary, K. (2016, September 19). A mysterious ice cave that produces ice only during summer. Amusing Planet.

https://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/09/a-mysterious-ice-cave-that-produces-ice.html

Pirpilashvili, P. (1960). The natural ice chamber of Skhvara village. Bulletin of the Georgian Academy of Sciences, 25(4), 790–798. (In Georgian)

Rakviashvili, K. Sh. (1965). Some issues in the study of Georgia’s ice caves. Caves of Georgia, 3, 48–51. (In Russian)

Tavartkiladze, K., & Kuznetsov, A. (1987). Phenomenological model of ice formation in Caucasus valleys during summer. Bulletin of the Georgian Academy of Sciences, 130(3), 545–548. (In Russian)

Tsikarishvili, K., Bolashvili, N., Janelidze, Z., Karalashvili, T., & Kutateladze, L. (2010). Ice and snow caves and natural ice chambers of Georgia. Science and Technology, 7–9, 28–34. (In Georgian)

Ukleba, D. (1963). The Sabatsminda ice chamber. Nature of Georgia, (6). (In Georgian)

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Published

2025-12-22

How to Cite

Karalashvili, T., Bolashvili, N., Tsikarishvili, K., & Geladze, V. (2025). Seasonal Ice Caves of Georgia. Georgian Geographical Journal, 5(3), 30–33. https://doi.org/10.52340/ggj.2025.05.03.04