Carving its way through the heart of Georgia's steppe ecosystem, the Iori River plays an instrumental role in the sustenance and flourishing of the region's diverse wildlife. The river has its source in the Greater Caucasus Mountains and continues its course for a length of 320 kilometers (200 miles) into Azerbaijan, where it's known as Gabirry (Qabirry), finally emptying into the Mingachevir reservoir.
The Iori River, together with the verdant gallery forest lining its valley, provides a lifeline to the inhabitants of the region's vast grasslands. Here, amidst scrub-covered ridges and sprawling steppe, roam the majestic lynx, the elusive wolf, the formidable brown bear, and the swift Persian gazelle, all dependent on the river as their primary water source. The river's existence is a testament to the cyclical nature of ecosystems, creating periodic wetlands and serving as a conduit for nutrients from the mountains to the lowlands.
Amongst the canvas of barren badlands and sweeping steppes, the gallery forest running alongside the Iori's riverbed stands as a beacon of biodiversity. This wildlife corridor provides not just breeding sites but core habitats for several bird species, including the endangered Egyptian vulture, the Saker falcon, and the Eastern imperial eagle.
In ancient times, the Iori River was known as the Cambyses, a name that lent itself to the region of Cambysene. Today, the Iori River and its surrounding ecosystem face threats from unsustainable agricultural practices and remnants of Soviet infrastructure. Yet, hope shines brightly as ongoing revitalization projects work towards a sustainable coexistence between the local pastoralists and the land they call home.
