-3- Natural Conditions of the Adjar ASSR Adjaria is one of the exciting regions where whole complexes of relic plants have been preserved. It is situated in the south- western part of Georgian SSR and has an area of 2,900 thousand km². The relief is principally mountainous with twisting gorges; extensive level areas are found only in the coastal lowland and in the high-altitude parts of mountains. The orographic structure of the country is determined by the western spurs of the Meskhet Range - Adjaro-Gurian, Arsian and Adjaro-Shavshet Ranges borde- ring it in the north, in the east, and in the south. The eleva- tions of the main peaks are 2752 m, 3007 m and 2810 m above sea- level. These ranges act as a barrier to the winds blowing from the continent, bringing about the prevalence of a maritime clima-te. The most important natural boundary is another spur of the Adjaro-Gurian Range - the Kobuleti-Chakvin Range. It begins at Mt.Khino (2600 m) and extends southwest, dividing Adjaria into two main geographic districts-maritime Adjaria and intermontane Adjaria. Maritime Adjaria occupies 2/5 of the Republic territory.It looks l'ke an amphitheatre (open towards the sea) formed by the Adjaro-Gurian Range (::ogether with the Kabuleti-Chakvin spur:) and the Adjaro-Shavshet Range. The coastal lowland in the east bor- ders upon the foot -hills and mountain slopes. Outcrops of andesites, basalts, porphyrites and other Tert-i-ary volcanic rocks predominate in the mountainous part of mari-time Adjaria. The lowland has been formed by Quaternary alluvial and marine deposits. The drainage system is rather complicated because of the great number of rivers and their tributaries. The most important rivers are the Kintrishi, the Chakvistskeli, and the Korolistiskali, as wellas the Chorokhi River in its lower rea-ches. These rivers are mountain streams that rush through narrow gorges, with numerous waterfalls. The climate is diverse because of a great range in eleva- tion. The maritime lowland and the foothills are characterized by a damp, subtropical climate. The mean winter temperature is 5-8°C