GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Enguri Dam

Where concrete holds back a mountain

Enguri Dam

Why go

The Enguri Dam is the world's sixth-highest arch dam at 271.5 meters, completed in 1978 after two decades of Soviet construction. Its reservoir stretches 35 kilometers into the Caucasus foothills, turning the Enguri River into a vast turquoise lake that mirrors the surrounding peaks. The drive from Jvari toward Svaneti crosses the dam's crest—an improbable road suspended between cliffs and water—offering one of Georgia's most dramatic transitions: from humid Samegrelo lowlands into the high alpine world of Svan towers and glaciers. The hydroelectric complex, still jointly operated by Georgia and Abkhazia, remains a fragile symbol of post-Soviet cooperation.

On the ground See

  • Drive or walk across the dam crest for vertiginous views of the reservoir and drop
  • Boat excursions on the reservoir to abandoned villages and limestone cliffs
  • The abandoned workers' settlement of Dikhazurga, with Soviet-era murals and decaying infrastructure

Practical Know before you go

Best visited May–October; the Jvari–Mestia road is paved but narrow, with occasional closures after heavy rains—check conditions before crossing.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly