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GEORGIA
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since.Now thecablecarsofChiatura
are literally suspended in time, a stark
and stunning sliceofGeorgia’spast.Any
visitorscanuse thecablecarsat any time
(thereareno ticketsandno timetables–
they justkeepon running),making fora
fascinating, if vertigo-inducing, tourist
attraction. For locals, though, it’s just the
morningcommute.
Chiatura is located in theheartof
ruggedandgorgeouscentralGeorgia–
wherealmost everything isavalley, and
anythingelse issnow-capped. It is189km
fromTbilisi, thecapital, and just 74km
fromKutaisi.Outhere speedbumpsare
cattle,while service stationsare tiny, pie-
bald tea shops.This isoldGeorgia.There
isn’tmuch in thewayofheavy industry,
although thiswasn’t always thecase.
Chiatura,which layseither sideof a
dramaticgorgealong thebanksof the
KvirilaRiver,wasakeyminingcentre
since1879, famed formanganeseused
in steel andaluminiumproduction, and
medicine.At the time, theSoviets super-
charged thecity, buildinggiant factories
atop thegorge thatwouldeventually
produce60percentof theworld’sman-
ganese. People flocked fromall over the
country towork in themines.Chiatura’s
populationboomed.However, the long
andwindingpathup the sideof thegorge
used to takeoveranhour todrive.
ONTHEWIRE: 5TOPCABLECARSTOTRY
TheWingsof Tatev, Halidzor, Armenia
Wings of Tatev is a long ride that connects
the southern townof Halidzorwith the
9th-centuryTatevmonastery, abreath-tak-
ing collectionof religious buildings located
at the edgeof a hugeplateau. At 5.7km
long, the route is the longest non-stopdou-
ble-track cable car in theworld.
Aerial Tramway, Tbilisi, Georgia
Georgia’s historic capital is built either
sideof the sweepingKuraRiver, meaning
that travel between its famous sites isn’t
always easy. Fortunately a cable carwas
launched in 2012, connectingRikePark
with the4th-century fortress of Narikala,
which looms over the city.
VitoshaCableCar, Sofia, Bulgaria
Themountainof Vitosha is oneof themain
symbols of Sofia, theBulgarian capital.
There are several ways toget to its summit,
fromwhere locals and tourists cango urban
skiing. Themost picturesque is surely the
cable car, with spectacular views of the city
and its storied surroundings.
THEHIGHLIFE
Riding a cable car inChiatura
is free. Cars leavewhen there
are enoughpassengers
MANONWIRE
Local resident Revaze
Achvadze (below) rides the
cable car duringhis commute
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