Basic information about Georgia

Capital: Tbilisi		Population: 4,382,000
Area: 69,700 sqm (slightly more that one-fifth the size of Poland)		Currency: The Georgian lari (GEL) As of November 9, GEL1 = zł.1.94 € 0.53, $0.67, £0.43
Lowest point: Black Sea, 0 meters		Population below poverty line: 31%
Unemployment rate: 13.3% (2007)		Highest point: Mt'a Shkhara, 5,201 meters
Major exports: scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits		Major imports: fuels, vehicles, machinery and parts, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals

Language: Georgian - the Georgian language has its own alphabet, comprising 33 characters which date back to before the country was Christianized, in 337AD (it was one of the first countries in the world to adopt Christianity). The word for Georgia in the Georgian language is completely different than its English counterpart - Sakartvelo. The name "Georgia" derives from the Greek word for earth or land, "geo." It dates back to times when Georgia was controlled by the Greeks, who noted how the people lived off the land.

Additional information:

• Saint George is the patron saint of Georgia.
• The country's current flag was re-adopted in 2004, after being out of use for some 500 years.
• Every traditional Georgian meal has a toast-master, or tamada, who guides the atmosphere of the evening by offering long, eloquent toasts, and who also designates others to give toasts. Brush up on your public-speaking skills if you plan on eating with the locals!

Sources: CIA World Factbook, Department of Statistics of Georgia