Madatapa Lake

Madatapa Lake serves as a habitat for more than 200 bird species, some of which are endangered. Endangered species include the Grey Crane, the Gariel, the Field Tern, the Coot, and the Red-headed Shrike.

The lake is a popular destination for birdwatchers, photographers, and camping enthusiasts. Tent-dwelling tourists can be seen circling the lake at all times of the year.

When in Madatapa, be sure to take a side trip to Gorelovka village, where the Doukhobors, an ethnic-confessional group of Russian people, live. Visit their ethnographic museum and marvel at white storks' nests on lampposts on the village road. 

Your visit may resemble the charming path of an adventure book. Samtskhe-Javakheti has a harsh climate, and Madatapa Lake, like other lakes in this area, freezes over from November to April. The locals even call snowy Javakheti the Georgian Antarctica.