Khvedelidze Rock Cave in Zod

The Khvedelidzei Rock Cave is located in Zemo Imereti, on the territory of the village of Zodi, Chiatu Municipality, near the Khvedelidzei district.

The cave is a two-story cave, located in the village of Kveda Zodi on the Jruchula River, at an altitude of 435 m above sea level and 4 m above the river level. The length is 560 m, width is 6 m, and the height is 1-10 meters. The area of the cave bottom is 1300 m2, the total volume is 73,000 m3. The height of the cave at the entrance is 8-10 meters, the width is 2 meters. It has a clearly expressed direction from northwest to southeast. In some places in the cave there are well-developed, large stalactites, the meltwater stream makes it impossible for stalactites to emerge. The average height of the tunnel is 5-7 meters, width 2-4 m, at the 330th meter from the entrance, a 6-meter-high waterfall falls down a steep slope covered with calcite and creates a rather deep whirlpool at the bottom. Near the waterfall there is a dome-shaped hall up to 13 m high, from the arch of which water drips continuously, the hall has a conical shape, which extends into the bottom strip, its emergence was facilitated by the intensive inflow of mudflows, as well as a vertical depression, which expanded due to the dissolving action of water. Above the waterfall is the second floor of the cave. If we do not take into account the fact that it resembles the first floor, it differs from it in other features. This part of the cave is lower, the widest distribution of intensively growing stalactite vents is explained by the absence of drainage cracks on the ceiling and favorable conditions for water seepage, the vents are well preserved, beautifully carved surfaces, germinated and large stalactites are found in many places. This part of the cave, which is rarely visited by tourists, is so narrow that it is practically impenetrable, the wind blows through a narrow hole, which makes us think that the cave is connected to the surface. During rains, a large stream flows out of the cave.