{"id":1574,"date":"2024-02-17T20:56:33","date_gmt":"2024-02-17T19:56:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/?page_id=1574"},"modified":"2024-02-17T20:56:50","modified_gmt":"2024-02-17T19:56:50","slug":"georgia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/zh\/georgia\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"621\" src=\"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-1024x621.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-1024x621.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-768x465.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-1536x931.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-2048x1241.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-99x60.jpg 99w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-pink-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a9aa66989a5fb0dc7a4ceef294972ed8 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Georgia Free Tour<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-pink-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-16afa72410182a502e1ec3552c1391e6 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tiblisi Free Tour<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-pink-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8c4cb776e7635315ce6a5799f2b06205 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Gori Free Tour<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Georgia<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/nation-state\">country<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Transcaucasia\">Transcaucasia<\/a> located at the eastern end of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Black-Sea\">Black Sea<\/a> on the southern flanks of the main crest of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. It is bounded on the north and northeast by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Russia\">Russia<\/a>, on the east and southeast by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Azerbaijan\">Azerbaijan<\/a>, on the south by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Armenia\">Armenia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Turkey\">Turkey<\/a>, and on the west by the Black Sea. Georgia includes three ethnic enclaves: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Abkhazia\">Abkhazia<\/a>, in the northwest (principal city Sokhumi); <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Ajaria\">Ajaria<\/a>, in the southwest (principal city Bat\u02bfumi); and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/South-Ossetia\">South Ossetia<\/a>, in the north (principal city Tskhinvali). The capital of Georgia is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tbilisi\">Tbilisi<\/a> (Tiflis).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/47\/183647-050-8CB3191B\/World-Data-Locator-Map-Georgia.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/47\/183647-050-8CB3191B\/World-Data-Locator-Map-Georgia.jpg\" alt=\"Georgia\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/47\/183647-050-8CB3191B\/World-Data-Locator-Map-Georgia.jpg\">Georgia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The roots of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Georgian-people\">Georgian<\/a> people extend deep in history; their cultural heritage is equally ancient and rich. During the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/medieval\">medieval<\/a> period a powerful Georgian kingdom existed, reaching its height between the 10th and 13th centuries. After a long period of Turkish and Persian domination, Georgia was annexed by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Russian-Empire\">Russian Empire<\/a> in the 19th century. An independent Georgian state existed from 1918 to 1921, when it was incorporated into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Soviet-Union\">Soviet Union<\/a>. In 1936 Georgia became a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/constituent\">constituent<\/a> (union) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/republic-government\">republic<\/a> and continued as such until the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/the-collapse-of-the-Soviet-Union\">collapse of the Soviet Union<\/a>. During the Soviet period the Georgian economy was modernized and diversified. One of the most independence-minded republics, Georgia declared <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/sovereignty\">sovereignty<\/a> on November 19, 1989, and independence on April 9, 1991.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 1990s were a period of instability and civil unrest in Georgia, as the first postindependence government was overthrown and separatist movements emerged in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Land<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Relief, drainage, and soils<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/23\/4723-050-4F01AE9E\/features-Georgia.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/23\/4723-050-4F01AE9E\/features-Georgia.jpg\" alt=\"Physical features of Georgia\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/23\/4723-050-4F01AE9E\/features-Georgia.jpg\">Physical features of Georgia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rugged Georgia terrain may be divided into three bands, all running from east to west.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To the north lies the wall of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Greater-Caucasus\">Greater Caucasus<\/a> range, consisting of a series of parallel and transverse mountain belts rising eastward and often separated by deep, wild gorges. Spectacular crest-line peaks include those of Mount <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Shkhara\">Shkhara<\/a>, which at 16,627 feet (5,068 metres) is the highest point in Georgia, and Mounts Rustaveli, Tetnuld, and Ushba, all of which are above 15,000 feet. The cone of the extinct <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Kazbek\">Mkinvari<\/a> (Kazbek) volcano dominates the northernmost Bokovoy range from a height of 16,512 feet. A number of important <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/spurs\">spurs<\/a> extend in a southward direction from the central range, including those of the Lomis and Kartli (Kartalinian) ranges at right angles to the general Caucasian trend. From the ice-clad flanks of these desolately beautiful high regions flow many streams and rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/student-subscription\/?utm_source=inline&amp;utm_medium=mendel&amp;utm_campaign=student-subscription-a\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students save 67%! Learn more about our special academic rate today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus merge into a second band, consisting of central lowlands formed on a great structural depression. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Kolkhida-coastal-plain-Georgia\">Kolkhida<\/a> Lowland, near the shores of the Black Sea, is covered by a thick layer of river-borne deposits accumulated over thousands of years. Rushing down from the Greater Caucasus, the major rivers of western Georgia, the Inguri, Rioni, and Kodori, flow over a broad area to the sea. The Kolkhida Lowland was formerly an almost continually <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/stagnant\">stagnant<\/a> swamp. In a great development program, drainage canals and embankments along the rivers were constructed and afforestation plans introduced; the region has become of prime importance through the cultivation of subtropical and other commercial crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To the east the structural trough is crossed by the Meskhet and Likh ranges, linking the Greater and Lesser Caucasus and marking the watershed between the basins of the Black and Caspian seas. In central Georgia, between the cities of Khashuri and Mts\u02bfkhet\u02bfa (the ancient capital), lies the inner high plateau known as the Kartli (Kartalinian) Plain. Surrounded by mountains to the north, south, east, and west and covered for the most part by deposits of the loess type, this plateau extends along the Kura (Mtkvari) River and its tributaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The southern band of Georgian territory is marked by the ranges and plateaus of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Lesser-Caucasus\">Lesser Caucasus<\/a>, which rise beyond a narrow, swampy coastal plain to reach 10,830 feet in the peak of Didi-Abuli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A variety of soils are found in Georgia, ranging from gray-brown and saline semidesert types to richer red earths and podzols. Artificial improvements add to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/diversity\">diversity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Climate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Caucasian barrier protects Georgia from cold air intrusions from the north, while the country is open to the constant influence of warm, moist air from the Black Sea. Western Georgia has a humid subtropical, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/marine-west-coast-climate\">maritime climate<\/a>, while eastern Georgia has a range of climate varying from moderately humid to a dry subtropical type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There also are marked elevation zones. The Kolkhida Lowland, for example, has a subtropical character up to about 1,600 to 2,000 feet, with a zone of moist, moderately warm climate lying just above; still higher is a belt of cold, wet winters and cool summers. Above about 6,600 to 7,200 feet there is an alpine climatic zone, lacking any true summer; above 11,200 to 11,500 feet snow and ice are present year-round. In eastern Georgia, farther inland, temperatures are lower than in the western portions at the same <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/altitude\">altitude<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Western Georgia has heavy rainfall throughout the year, totaling 40 to 100 inches (1,000 to 2,500 mm) and reaching a maximum in autumn and winter. Southern Kolkhida receives the most rain, and humidity decreases to the north and east. Winter in this region is mild and warm; in regions below about 2,000 to 2,300 feet, the mean January temperature never falls below 32 \u00b0F (0 \u00b0C), and relatively warm, sunny winter weather persists in the coastal regions, where temperatures average about 41 \u00b0F (5 \u00b0C). Summer temperatures average about 71 \u00b0F (22 \u00b0C).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In eastern Georgia, precipitation decreases with distance from the sea, reaching 16 to 28 inches in the plains and foothills but increasing to double this amount in the mountains. The southeastern regions are the driest areas, and winter is the driest season; the rainfall maximum occurs at the end of spring. The highest lowland temperatures occur in July (about 77 \u00b0F [25 \u00b0C]), while average January temperatures over most of the region range from 32 to 37 \u00b0F (0 to 3 \u00b0C).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plant and animal life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Georgia\u2019s location and its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/diverse\">diverse<\/a> terrain have given rise to a remarkable variety of landscapes. The luxuriant vegetation of the moist, subtropical Black Sea shores is relatively close to the eternal snows of the mountain peaks. Deep gorges and swift rivers give way to dry steppes, and the green of alpine meadows alternates with the darker hues of forested valleys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than a third of the country is covered by forests and brush. In the west a relatively constant climate over a long time span has preserved many relict and rare items, including the Pitsunda pines (<em>Pinus pithyusa<\/em>). The forests include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/oak\">oak<\/a>, chestnut, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/beech\">beech<\/a>, and alder, as well as Caucasian fir, ash, linden, and apple and pear trees. The western underbrush is dominated by evergreens (including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/rhododendron\">rhododendrons<\/a> and holly) and such deciduous shrubs as Caucasian bilberry and nut trees. Liana strands entwine some of the western forests. Citrus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/groves\">groves<\/a> are found throughout the republic, and long rows of eucalyptus trees line the country roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eastern Georgia has fewer forests, and the steppes are dotted with thickets of prickly underbrush, as well as a blanket of feather and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/bluestem\">beard grass<\/a>. Herbaceous subalpine and alpine vegetation occurs extensively in the highest regions. Animal life is very diverse. Goats and Caucasian antelope inhabit the high mountains; rodents live in the high meadows; and a rich birdlife includes the mountain turkey, the Caucasian black grouse, and the mountain and bearded eagles. The clear rivers and mountain lakes are full of trout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Forest regions are characterized by wild boars, roe and Caucasian deer, brown bears, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/lynx-mammal\">lynx<\/a>, wolves, foxes, jackals, hares, and squirrels. Birds range from the thrush to the black vulture and hawk. Some of these animals and birds also frequent the lowland regions, which are the home of the introduced raccoon, mink, and nutria. The lowland rivers and the Black Sea itself are rich in fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All information come from <a href=\"http:\/\/Netherlands, country located in northwestern Europe, also known as Holland. \u201cNetherlands\u201d means low-lying country; the name Holland (from Houtland, or \u201cWooded Land\u201d) was originally given to one of the medieval cores of what later became the modern state and is still used for 2 of its 12 provinces (Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland). A parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch, the kingdom includes its former colonies in the Lesser Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, Cura\u00e7ao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten. The capital is Amsterdam and the seat of government The Hague. Netherlands Netherlands Explore Holland's population, waterways, and vast tulip cross-breeding and cultivation program Explore Holland's population, waterways, and vast tulip cross-breeding and cultivation program Learn about the geography, agriculture, and commerce of The Netherlands. See all videos for this article  The country is indeed low-lying and remarkably flat, with large expanses of lakes, rivers, and canals. Some 2,500 square miles (6,500 square km) of the Netherlands consist of reclaimed land, the result of a process of careful water management dating back to medieval times. Along the coasts, land was reclaimed from the sea, and, in the interior, lakes and marshes were drained, especially alongside the many rivers. All this new land was turned into polders, usually surrounded by dikes. Initially, man power and horsepower were used to drain the land, but they were later replaced by windmills, such as the mill network at Kinderdijk-Elshout, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The largest water-control schemes were carried out in the second half of the 19th century and in the 20th century, when steam pumps and, later, electric or diesel pumps came into use. Exploring Amsterdam: Canals, design, and museums Exploring Amsterdam: Canals, design, and museums Overview of Amsterdam. See all videos for this article  Despite government-encouraged emigration after World War II, which prompted some 500,000 persons to leave the country, the Netherlands is today one of the world\u2019s most densely populated countries. Although the population as a whole is \u201cgraying\u201d rapidly, with a high percentage over age 65, Amsterdam has remained one of the liveliest centres of international youth culture. There, perhaps more than anywhere else in the country, the Dutch tradition of social tolerance is readily encountered. Prostitution, \u201csoft-drug\u201d (marijuana and hashish) use, and euthanasia are all legal but carefully regulated in the Netherlands, which was also the first country to legalize same-sex marriage.  This relative independence of outlook was evident as early as the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Dutch rejected monarchical controls and took a relatively enlightened view of other cultures, especially when they brought wealth and capital to the country\u2019s trading centres. In that period Dutch merchant ships sailed the world and helped lay the foundations of a great trading country characterized by a vigorous spirit of enterprise. In later centuries, the Netherlands continued to have one of the most advanced economies in the world, despite the country\u2019s modest size. The Dutch economy is open and generally internationalist in outlook. With Belgium and Luxembourg, the Netherlands is a member of the Benelux economic union, which in the 1950s and 1960s served as a model for the larger European Economic Community (EEC; now embedded in the European Union [EU]), of which the Benelux countries are members. The Netherlands is also a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and it plays host to a number of international organizations, especially in the legal sector, such as the International Court of Justice. Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery Britannica Quiz Countries &amp; Their Features  The Dutch reputation for tolerance was tested in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, when an increase in immigration from non-European Union countries and a populist turn in politics resulted in growing nationalism and even xenophobia, marked by two race-related political assassinations, in 2002 and 2004, and the government\u2019s requirement that immigrants pass an expensive \u2018\u2018integration\u2019\u2019 test before they enter the country. Land Relief Netherlands Netherlands Urk, Netherlands Urk, Netherlands Urk, once an island of the former Zuiderzee, now part of the North East (Noordoost) Polder, Netherlands.  The Netherlands is bounded by the North Sea to the north and west, Germany to the east, and Belgium to the south. If the Netherlands were to lose the protection of its dunes and dikes, the most densely populated part of the country would be inundated (largely by the sea but also in part by the rivers). This highly developed part of the Netherlands, which generally does not lie higher than about three feet (one metre) above sea level, covers more than half the total area of the country. About half of this area (more than one-fourth of the total area of the country) actually lies below sea level. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now  The lower area consists mainly of polders, where the landscape not only lies at a very low elevation but is also very flat in appearance. On such land, building is possible only on \u201crafts,\u201d or after concrete piles, sometimes as long as 65 feet (20 metres), have been driven into the silt layer.  In the other, higher area, the layers of sand and gravel in the eastern part of the country were pushed sideways and upward in some places by ice tongues of the Saale Glacial Stage, forming elongated ridges that may reach a height of more than 330 feet (100 metres) and are the principal feature of the Hoge Park Veluwe National Park. The only part of the country where elevations exceed 350 feet (105 metres) is the border zone of the Ardennes. The Netherlands\u2019 highest point, the Vaalserberg, in the extreme southeastern corner, rises to 1,053 feet (321 metres). Drainage and dikes north dam across the IJsselmeer north dam across the IJsselmeer Part of the north dam (the Afsluitdijk) across the IJsselmeer, Netherlands.  The Zuiderzee was originally an estuary of the Rhine River. By natural action it then became a shallow inland sea, biting deep into the land, and eventually it was hollowed into an almost circular shape by the action of winds and tides. In 1920 work was begun on the Zuiderzee project, of which the IJsselmeer Dam (Afsluitdijk), begun in 1927, was a part. This 19-mile- (30-km-) long dam was completed in 1932 to finally seal off the Zuiderzee from the Waddenzee and the North Sea. In the IJsselmeer, or IJssel Lake, formed from the southern part of the Zuiderzee, four large polders, the IJsselmeer Polders, with a total area of about 650 square miles (1,700 square km), were constructed around a freshwater basin fed by the IJssel and other rivers and linked with the sea by sluices and locks in the barrier dam.  The first two polders created there\u2014Wieringermeer and North East (Noordoost) Polder, drained before and during World War II\u2014are used mostly for agriculture. The two polders reclaimed in the 1950s and \u201960s\u2014South Flevoland Polder (Zuidelijk) and East Flevoland Polder (Oostelijk)\u2014are used for residential, industrial, and recreational purposes. Among the cities that have developed there are Lelystad and Almere. Netherlands: Delta Works flood-control project Netherlands: Delta Works flood-control project Learn about flood control in the Netherlands. See all videos for this article  In the southwest, the disastrous gales and spring tide of February 1, 1953, which flooded some 400,000 acres (162,000 hectares) of land and killed 1,800 people, accelerated the implementation of the Delta Project, which aimed to close off most of the sea inlets of the southwestern delta. These delta works were designed to shorten the coastline by 450 miles (725 km), combat the salination of the soil, and allow the development of the area through roads that were constructed over 10 dams and 2 bridges built between 1960 and 1987. The largest of these dams, crossing the five-mile- (eight-km-) wide Eastern Schelde (Oosterschelde) estuary, has been built in the form of a storm-surge barrier incorporating dozens of openings that can be closed in the event of flood. The barrier is normally open, allowing salt water to enter the estuary and about three-fourths of the tidal movement to be maintained, limiting damage to the natural environment in the Eastern Schelde. In the interest of the commerce of the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, no dams were constructed in the New Waterway, which links Rotterdam to the North Sea, or the West Schelde, an approach to Antwerp, Belgium. The dikes along these waterways consequently had to be strengthened.  A region with a very specific character has been formed by the great rivers\u2014Rhine, Lek, Waal, and Maas (Meuse)\u2014that flow from east to west through the central part of the country. The landscape in this area is characterized by high dikes along wide rivers, orchards along the levees formed by the rivers, and numerous large bridges over which pass the roads and railways that connect the central Netherlands with the southern provinces. Soils Keukenhof Gardens Keukenhof Gardens Keukenhof Gardens, near Lisse, Netherlands.  In the late Pleistocene Epoch (from about 126,000 to 11,700 years ago), the Scandinavian ice sheet covered the northern half of the Netherlands. After this period, a large area in the north of what is now the Netherlands was left covered by moraine (glacial accumulation of earth and rock debris). In the centre and south, the Rhine and Maas rivers unloaded thick layers of silt and gravel transported from the European mountain chains. Later, during the Holocene Epoch (i.e., the past 11,700 years), clay was deposited in the sheltered lagoons behind the coastal dunes, and peat soil often subsequently developed in these areas. If the peat soil was washed away by the sea or dug away by humans (for the production of fuel and salt), lakes were created. Many of these were reclaimed in later centuries (as mentioned above), while others now form highly valued outdoor recreational areas. Climate  The climate of the Netherlands is temperate, with gentle winters, cool summers, and rainfall in every season. Southerly and westerly winds predominate, and the sea moderates the climate through onshore winds and the effect of the Gulf Stream. Koninck, Philips: View over a Flat Landscape Koninck, Philips: View over a Flat Landscape View over a Flat Landscape, oil on canvas by Philips Koninck, 1664; in the Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands.  The position of the country\u2014between the area of high-pressure air masses centred on the Azores and the low-pressure region centred on Iceland\u2014makes the Netherlands an area of collision between warm and polar air masses, thus creating unsettled weather. Winds meet with little resistance over the flat country, though the hills in the south significantly diminish the velocity of the potent wind that prevails along the coast. On average, frost occurs 60 days per year. July temperatures average about 63 \u00b0F (17 \u00b0C), and those of January average 35 \u00b0F (2 \u00b0C). Annual rainfall averages about 31 inches (790 mm), with only about 25 clear days per year. The average rainfall is highest in summer (August) and autumn and lowest in springtime. The country is known\u2014not least through the magnificent landscapes of Dutch painters\u2014for its heavy clouds, and on an average day three-fifths of the sky is clouded. Plant and animal life  Most wild Dutch plant species are of the Atlantic district within the Euro-Siberian phytogeographic region. Gradients of salt and winter temperature variations cause relatively minor zonal differences in both wild and garden plants from the coast to more continental regions. The effects of elevation are negligible. Vegetation from coastal sand dunes, muddy coastal areas, slightly brackish lakes, and river deltas is especially scarce in the surrounding countries. Lakes, marshes, peatland, woods, heaths, and agricultural areas determine the general floral species. Clay, peat, and sand are important soil factors for the inland vegetation regions.  Animal life is relegated by region according to vegetation. Seabirds and other sea life, such as mollusks, are found especially in the muddy Waddenzee area and in the extreme southwest. Migrating birds pass in huge numbers through the Netherlands or remain for a summer or winter stay. Species of waterbirds and marsh and pasture birds are numerous. Larger mammals, such as roe deer, red deer, foxes, and badgers, are mostly restricted to nature reserves. Some species, such as boars, beavers, fallow deer, mouflons, and muskrats, have been introduced locally or reintroduced. Some reptiles and amphibians are endangered. Numerous species of river fish and river lobsters have become scarce because of water pollution. There is a diversity of brackish and freshwater animals inhabiting the many lakes, canals, and drainage ditches, but the vulnerable species of the nutritionally deficient waters have become rare.  Nature reserves have been formed by governmental and private organizations. Well-known reserves include the Naardermeer of Amsterdam, the Hoge Veluwe National Park, and the Oostvaardersplassen in the centre of the country. Some endangered species are protected by law.\">Encyclopedia Britannica<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Georgia Free Tour Tiblisi Free Tour Gori Free Tour Information: Georgia, country of Transcaucasia located at the eastern end of the Black Sea on the southern flanks of the main crest of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. It is bounded on the north and northeast by Russia, on the east and southeast by Azerbaijan, on the &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1574","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","latest_post"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"zh","enabled_languages":["en","es","zh","it"],"languages":{"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"es":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"it":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Best Free walking tour Europe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"zh_CN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Georgia - Best Free Tour\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Best Free Tour\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-17T19:56:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-1024x621.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/georgia\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/georgia\\\/\",\"name\":\"Best Free walking tour Europe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/georgia\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/georgia\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-1024x621.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-17T19:56:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-17T19:56:50+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/georgia\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"zh-CN\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/georgia\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"zh-CN\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/georgia\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-1024x621.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-1024x621.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/georgia\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Georgia\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Best Free Tour\",\"description\":\"walking tour: Florence, Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"zh-CN\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Best Free Tour\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"zh-CN\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cropped-best-free-tour-logo-.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cropped-best-free-tour-logo-.jpg\",\"width\":157,\"height\":145,\"caption\":\"Best Free Tour\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bestfreetour.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Best Free walking tour Europe","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/","og_locale":"zh_CN","og_type":"article","og_title":"Georgia - Best Free Tour","og_url":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/","og_site_name":"Best Free Tour","article_modified_time":"2024-02-17T19:56:50+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-1024x621.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/","url":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/","name":"Best Free walking tour Europe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-1024x621.jpg","datePublished":"2024-02-17T19:56:33+00:00","dateModified":"2024-02-17T19:56:50+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"zh-CN","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"zh-CN","@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-1024x621.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Georgia-neil-sengupta-emWzYc5XC_A-unsplash-1024x621.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/georgia\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Georgia"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/","name":"Best Free Tour","description":"walking tour: Florence, Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"zh-CN"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/#organization","name":"Best Free Tour","url":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"zh-CN","@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cropped-best-free-tour-logo-.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cropped-best-free-tour-logo-.jpg","width":157,"height":145,"caption":"Best Free Tour"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1574","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1574"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1574\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1577,"href":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1574\/revisions\/1577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}