Zestafoni or Zestaponi (Georgian: ზესტაფონი, romanized:zest'aponi, Georgian pronunciation: [zestʼɑpʰoni]) is the administrative center of Zestafoni District in Western Georgia. Zestafoni is the center of an ancient, historical part of Georgia – Margveti, which is a part of Imereti province. Zestafoni is the center of Margveti's Eparchy of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Zestafoni is situated in the furthest east of the Colchis Plateau, and is built on both banks of the Qvirila River.
It is an important industrial center, with a large ferro-alloy plant processing manganese ore from nearby Chiatura.[1] Zestafoni is in the Kolkheti lowlands, a semi-tropical region with relatively cold winters averaging −4 °C (25 °F) in January and hot summers averaging 24 °C (75 °F) in August. The surrounding countryside is a wine-growing region.[1]
The town of Zestafoni and the smaller neighboring town of Shorapani are industrial centers. The Zestafoni ferro-alloy plant processes raw manganese ore shipped by rail down the Kvirila valley from Chiatura, supplying 6% of world demand. The largest ferroalloy plant in the country, in 1998 it produced 35,000 tonnes of silicomanganese and 11,000 tonnes of medium-carbon manganese alloy. This was well below its previous peak production of 110,000 tonnes of manganese-based alloys.[2] The British steel trading company Stemcor acquired the ferro-alloy plant in February 2006.[3]
Two other plants in the Zestafoni / Shorapani area produce electrical products, aluminum and copper cable and wire. There were more plants in the Soviet era producing fireproof clay, marble and clothing. Zestafoni is also one of the winery-vinery centers of Georgia. Wine prepared from the Tsitsqa and Tsolikouri species are widely known.[1]
History
Zestafoni lies 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) west of the small but ancient fortress town of Shorapani, founded by Pharnavaz I of Iberia in the 3rd century BC.[citation needed] The town of Zestafoni is first mentioned in historical records in the 1560s. The name of the city is connected with the bank of river Kvirila (Georgian: phoni), upper bank (Georgian: Zeda phoni), that was used by the local population and foreign travelers from ancient times.
In the 1820s a Cossack army was posted in the town, which was then called "Kvirila" after the river that runs through it. During the Russian Empire, the city was the administrative center of the Shorapani Uyezd of the Kutaisi Governorate. In the 1920s the name was changed again to "Jugeli", after a famous revolutionary. Only later did the city regain its historical name.[4]
There are many historical monuments in the Zestafoni region: Zeda Saqara (11th century), Tabakini (6th century), Tseva (11th century), Sanakhshire and other churches, and castles from the early Middle Ages in Shrosha and Shorapani. Shorapani (Sarapanis) is the toponymy, that is mentioned in old Greek mythology. That was Sarapanis that Jason and his Argonaut friends approached during their travel in old Colchis (Kolkhida).
Sports and culture
The local football club, FC Zestafoni, plays in the top league in Georgia and twice won the Georgian championship in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 season. The local women's basketball team was champion of Georgia in 2011. The city's stadium was built by Zestafoni Ferro-alloy Plant in 1952 and since its renovation has a capacity of 4,600.[5]
The writer Boris Akunin and philosopher Tengiz Tsereteli were born in Zestafoni.[6] The psychologist and philosopher Dimitri Uznadze was born in the nearby village of Sakara in 1886.[7] Famous Georgian actors Shalva Ghambashidze, Ushangi Chkheidze, Sergo and Bukhuti Zakariadze were also born in Zestafoni. World wrestling (Greco-Roman) champion Mikhail Saladze is from Zestafoni.
^ abc. PS News. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
^MITCHELL, ROBERT W. (April 2, 1999). "Russia plans to up output of ferroalloys". American Metal Market. Retrieved 2009-02-01.[dead link]
^Margarita Antidze (February 23, 2006). "Stemcor says acquires Georgian ferro-alloy plant". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-02-01.[permanent dead link]
^"History". Football Club Zestafoni. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^. FC “Zestafoni”. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
^Чхартишвили, Григорий. Collection of materials by Lenta.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 26 November 2009.
^Georgy Ketchuashvili2. "Dimitri Uznadze (1886–1950)" (PDF). PROSPECTS: the quarterly review of comparative education vol. 24, no.3/4, 1994, p. 687–701. UNESCO: International Bureau of Education. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
zestaponi, zestafoni, georgian, ზესტაფონი, romanized, zest, aponi, georgian, pronunciation, zestʼɑpʰoni, administrative, center, zestafoni, district, western, georgia, zestafoni, center, ancient, historical, part, georgia, margveti, which, part, imereti, provi. Zestafoni or Zestaponi Georgian ზესტაფონი romanized zest aponi Georgian pronunciation zestʼɑpʰoni is the administrative center of Zestafoni District in Western Georgia Zestafoni is the center of an ancient historical part of Georgia Margveti which is a part of Imereti province Zestafoni is the center of Margveti s Eparchy of the Georgian Orthodox Church Zestafoni is situated in the furthest east of the Colchis Plateau and is built on both banks of the Qvirila River Zestaponi ზესტაფონიTownTown of ZestafoniZestaponiLocation of the town of Zestafoni in GeorgiaShow map of GeorgiaZestaponiZestaponi Imereti Show map of ImeretiCoordinates 42 06 30 N 43 02 30 E 42 10833 N 43 04167 E 42 10833 43 04167Country Georgia country MkhareImeretiDistrictZestafoniElevation520 ft 160 m Population 2014 Total20 814Time zoneUTC 4 Georgian Standard Time ClimateCfaZestaponi Theatre Zestaponi railway station View from Shorapani fortress It is an important industrial center with a large ferro alloy plant processing manganese ore from nearby Chiatura 1 Zestafoni is in the Kolkheti lowlands a semi tropical region with relatively cold winters averaging 4 C 25 F in January and hot summers averaging 24 C 75 F in August The surrounding countryside is a wine growing region 1 Contents 1 Industry 2 History 3 Sports and culture 4 Notable people 5 Twin towns sister cities 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksIndustry EditThe town of Zestafoni and the smaller neighboring town of Shorapani are industrial centers The Zestafoni ferro alloy plant processes raw manganese ore shipped by rail down the Kvirila valley from Chiatura supplying 6 of world demand The largest ferroalloy plant in the country in 1998 it produced 35 000 tonnes of silicomanganese and 11 000 tonnes of medium carbon manganese alloy This was well below its previous peak production of 110 000 tonnes of manganese based alloys 2 The British steel trading company Stemcor acquired the ferro alloy plant in February 2006 3 Two other plants in the Zestafoni Shorapani area produce electrical products aluminum and copper cable and wire There were more plants in the Soviet era producing fireproof clay marble and clothing Zestafoni is also one of the winery vinery centers of Georgia Wine prepared from the Tsitsqa and Tsolikouri species are widely known 1 History EditZestafoni lies 2 kilometres 1 2 miles west of the small but ancient fortress town of Shorapani founded by Pharnavaz I of Iberia in the 3rd century BC citation needed The town of Zestafoni is first mentioned in historical records in the 1560s The name of the city is connected with the bank of river Kvirila Georgian phoni upper bank Georgian Zeda phoni that was used by the local population and foreign travelers from ancient times In the 1820s a Cossack army was posted in the town which was then called Kvirila after the river that runs through it During the Russian Empire the city was the administrative center of the Shorapani Uyezd of the Kutaisi Governorate In the 1920s the name was changed again to Jugeli after a famous revolutionary Only later did the city regain its historical name 4 There are many historical monuments in the Zestafoni region Zeda Saqara 11th century Tabakini 6th century Tseva 11th century Sanakhshire and other churches and castles from the early Middle Ages in Shrosha and Shorapani Shorapani Sarapanis is the toponymy that is mentioned in old Greek mythology That was Sarapanis that Jason and his Argonaut friends approached during their travel in old Colchis Kolkhida Sports and culture EditThe local football club FC Zestafoni plays in the top league in Georgia and twice won the Georgian championship in the 2010 11 and 2011 12 season The local women s basketball team was champion of Georgia in 2011 The city s stadium was built by Zestafoni Ferro alloy Plant in 1952 and since its renovation has a capacity of 4 600 5 The writer Boris Akunin and philosopher Tengiz Tsereteli were born in Zestafoni 6 The psychologist and philosopher Dimitri Uznadze was born in the nearby village of Sakara in 1886 7 Famous Georgian actors Shalva Ghambashidze Ushangi Chkheidze Sergo and Bukhuti Zakariadze were also born in Zestafoni World wrestling Greco Roman champion Mikhail Saladze is from Zestafoni Notable people EditDimitri Uznadze psychologist Boris Akunin Shalva Dadiani Zaza Tavadze is a former chairman of the Constitutional Court of GeorgiaTwin towns sister cities EditZestafoni is twinned with Taurage Lithuania Kiryat Bialik Israel Zaporizhia Ukraine Elva EstoniaSee also EditImeretiReferences Edit a b c Zestafoni Region PS News Archived from the original on July 21 2011 Retrieved 2010 01 31 MITCHELL ROBERT W April 2 1999 Russia plans to up output of ferroalloys American Metal Market Retrieved 2009 02 01 dead link Margarita Antidze February 23 2006 Stemcor says acquires Georgian ferro alloy plant Reuters Retrieved 2009 02 01 permanent dead link History Football Club Zestafoni Retrieved 2010 02 02 Official web site of FC Zestafoni FC Zestafoni Archived from the original on 2007 09 28 Retrieved 2009 02 01 Chhartishvili Grigorij Collection of materials by Lenta ru in Russian Retrieved 26 November 2009 Georgy Ketchuashvili2 Dimitri Uznadze 1886 1950 PDF PROSPECTS the quarterly review of comparative education vol 24 no 3 4 1994 p 687 701 UNESCO International Bureau of Education Retrieved 2010 01 31 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zestafoni Zestafoni GeCoordinates 42 06 30 N 43 02 30 E 42 10833 N 43 04167 E 42 10833 43 04167 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zestaponi amp oldid 1131329916, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
