Nazodelavo Cave Natural Monument
Nazodelavo Cavern
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
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Nearest city	Zugdidi
Coordinates	42°30′21.9″N 42°13′16.3″E / 42.506083°N 42.221194°E / 42.506083; 42.221194
Area	0.14 km2 (0.054 sq mi)
Established	2013
Governing body	Agency of Protected Areas
Website	Nazodelavo Cave Natural Monument

Nazodelavo Cave Natural Monument (Georgian: ნაზოდელავოს მღვიმე) is a karst cave 6.8 km to the north from village Akhuti in Chkhorotsqu Municipality in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia.^[1] Cave is located on the left bank of river Zana (Khobi river tributary), 290 meters above sea level.^[2] Nazodelavo means the dwelling of Zodelavos. According to cave narratives, it was used as a means of defense in the middle ages.^[3]

Morphology

Nazodelavo karst cave formed in a conglomerates of the Neogene geologic period in Odishi plain karst massif.^[4] Cave is 600 m long with main tunnel average width of 4 m and height 3 m. The two main outlets are narrower and shorter than the main cave tunnel. A cold underground river with clear water flows through an erosion canyon in cave floor. In some places depth of the erosion canyon reaches 7-8 meters.^[5][6]

Fauna

In the cave and in the surrounding area on the surface there are summer moths. The inhabitants of the cave include Lepidocyrtus, Folsomia and Oxychilus.^[4]