Geomorphological Zoning of Racha Region for Geopark Planning

Geomorphological zoning and complex relief research were conducted in the Racha region, which is located In the Caucasus, in the northwestern part of Georgia, south of the Greater Caucasus, in the central part of which there are Precambrian and Paleozoic crystalline substrates (gneisses, migmatites, crystalline shales) and granitoid intrusions of different ages. The Caucasus axis and higher massifs are built of granitoid, gneiss, and metamorphic shales. The oldest rocks (600 million years old) are found at the highest points and the age of the rocks decreases in the vicinity of the hypsometry steps (70 30 million rocks). The geological structure of the region has made a significant contribution to the formation of relief landscapes. Karst, erosion-denudation, volcanic, periglacial relief, and various interesting forms are formed here: caves, valleys, canyons, glacial and rocky lakes, waterfalls, deep valleys, mineral waters, and more. The peculiarity of the relief also influenced the mining geological history (5000 AD) and the creation of ancient settlements. Here, still in ancient Racha, at the head of the main river, Rioni, ancient settlements were formed due to iron, gold, and copper metal, which is confirmed by archeological monuments.


Introduction
The relief of the study area is mountainous. The average height is 1700 m. The

Materials and Methodology
The research process took two years. The research included the processing of materials obtained during the expedition and local scientific literature. I made analytical digital maps based on the materials collected through the GIS program. I have identified three geomorphological zones in the region that describe in detail the complex geological areas in the region, the terrain morphostructures, the geologically dangerous or interesting areas, just the beautiful landscapes. The presented study is complex, on the basis of which the analysis was made.
Based on the field research, I have compiled a list of important relief forms that should be granted the status of a natural monument (glacial lakes, peaks, waterfalls, canyons, etc.). The coordinates of completely natural objects were determined by GPS and recorded on a digital map. The routes of access to natural monuments and the complexity of the areas were also determined.

Results
The region is located in Sinclin and is built of Oligocene and Lower Miocene clays, sandstones, conglomerates (Maikop series), and marine molasses. Syncline is divided in the middle by the small ridge of Labechina, in the eastern part of which is Racha, and in the west the territories of Lechkhumi. The wings of the   2) Medium height mountain-artisanal, with erosion Strong distributed relief, formed in a series of upper Lias shales. This type of relief extends in the middle and lower part of the southern slope of the Lechkhumi ridge, the rivers: Lukhunistskali from the headwaters to the confluence of the Rioni, Ritseula, and its tributary, the Akhiskhele. River and its tributaries: Sadolkoma, Kaskhenvake, presented zone is mainly modified and represented by anthropogenic landscapes. Of particular interest in this zone are the deep valley of the river Lukhunistskali and the terraces on the left, where are 6 terraces. There are no terraces on the left side of the river, indicating that on the right side of the valley, there is a terrain that moves vertically (Uravi, Likheti, Abari). Open Journal of Geology Racha syncline, which extends south through the porch ridges of Bios (Cretaceous limestone). Relief is narrow, canyon-like valleys with asymmetric ridges (Salio ridge, which has a southern slope with strong sloping slopes and cornice forms). On the Saelo ridge is the beautiful canyons, which deserve the status of a natural monument ( Figure 2). Flattened areas at 1400 -1500 meters, short meridian valleys, the remaining steps of the snow avalanche (on the left slope of the river Askistskali gorge) Anti-ascending valleys (from the lower Sarmat to the area there is constant vertical movement, during which there is deep erosion [1]. 5) Right terrace slope of Rioni Valley, developed by landslides, formed on Oligocene, Middle, and Lower Miocene substrate and Sarmatian clays, sandstones, limestones, and marls. In the Racha syncline, there is a valley of the river Rioni with frequent meandering and bed expansion. There are nine terraces on the right side of the river Rioni, but there are no terraces on the right side; the main reason is vertical movement.     [7].

III) Jejor and Gharuli Basin
The area is between the branch of the Racha Range and the main ridge of the and erosive river forms, karst forms, caves), landslide forms (mainly found in the Jejori basin), and others [8].
There are several objects here that I think deserve the status of a natural monument, for example, Tskhmori waterfall, Kvedi Lake.

Conclusions
As a result of the presented study, the geomorphological zoning of the region includes three main zones, where subzones are also separated. Each zone has common characteristics of relief forms, age of rock rocks, landscape characteristics and more.
The first zone has seven subzones as they are characterized by a variety of ter- In the second subzone-Upper Racha, 70% (More than 3000 meters) of the relief belongs to a high mountain. Small settlements are shrinking even more.
Landscapes are changing due to the extraction of mineral resources and the con-