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Weather 10°C, Wind W at 14 km/h, 53% Humidity | ||
Ochamchire or Ochamchira (Georgian: ოჩამჩირე, [ɔtʃʰɑmtʃʰire]; Abkhaz: Очамчыра, Ochamchyra; Russian: Очамчира, Ochamchira) is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast of Abkhazia, Georgia. and a centre of the eponymous district.
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Map of Ochamchire
According to the 1978 population census, Ochamchire had 18,700 residents. After the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict of 1992-93, Ochamchire experienced a significant population decline due to ethnic cleansing of Georgians. Most of the internally displaced persons who were affected by the conflict have yet to return to the city. Ochamchire lies along the left bank of the Ghalidzga River at an elevation of 5 metres (16 feet) above sea level. The city is located 53 kilometres (33 miles) southeast of Sukhumi capital city. Ochamchire's climate is humid subtropical, with mild winters and hot summers. The average annual temperature is 13.6 degrees Celsius. January's average temperature is 4.5 degrees Celsius while the average temperature in July is 23 degrees Celsius. Average annual precipitation is approximately 1,300 mm (51 in).
Ochamchire evolved as a town from a small maritime settlement, which was a scene of fighting between the Russians and Turkish-Abkhaz forces in 1877.
The ancient Greek colony of Gyenos (Greek: Γυένος) is supposed to have located near Ochamchire, though the identification cannot be considered as definitive because of doubts as to the actual location and the very poor preservation of the archaeologic site itself.
According to Itar Tass, in 2009, Russia planned to construct a new naval base for its Black Sea Fleet (as of 2009 based at Sevastopol) in Ochamchire.
The former Georgian Soviet footballer Vitaly Daraselia was from Ochamchire.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Ochamchire is twinned with the following cites: