Prometheus Cave

Prometheus Cave is a striking karst cave near Tskaltubo in western Georgia. Discovered in 1983, it was first named Kumistavi after the nearest village and later renamed for Prometheus, who according to legend was chained to nearby Mount Khvamli. The cave extends for 11 kilometers, though only the first kilometer is open to tourists. Broad galleries with clay floors and ceilings reaching 21 meters create the atmosphere of an underground palace. Entry is possible only on guided tours in Georgian, English, or Russian. Its stalactites grow extremely slowly—more than a century for a single centimeter—and the oldest formations are hundreds of thousands of years old.

The cave air is rich in oxygen and easy to breathe, and visits are sometimes considered beneficial for people with respiratory conditions. Near the exit stands a sculpture of a man and his dog, commemorating a local guardian who protected the cave with his pet for many years. A three-kilometer natural area around the cave preserves rare plants and animals and supports its unique biodiversity.