Tskhenistsqali

Tskhenistsqali
Tskhenistsqali valley in Lower Svaneti
Show map of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Show map of Georgia
Native name	ცხენისწყალი (Georgian)
Location
Country	Georgia
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Caucasus Major
Mouth	Rioni
• coordinates	42°07′31″N 42°17′56″E / 42.1252°N 42.2989°E / 42.1252; 42.2989
Length	176 km (109 mi)
Basin size	2,120 km2 (820 sq mi)
Basin features
Progression	Rioni→ Black Sea

Tskhenistsqali (Georgian: ცხენისწყალი, Cxenisċqali, also: Tskhenistskali)^[1] is a river in northern Georgia. Its source is in the main range of the Caucasus Mountains, in the easternmost part of the Lentekhi Municipality, lower Svaneti. A tributary of the river Rioni, it is 176 km (109 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 2,120 km² (820 sq mi).^[2] It flows through the small towns Lentekhi and Tsageri and joins the Rioni near the town of Samtredia. The main tributaries of Tskhenistskali are: Zsekho, Kheleldula, Janolula ( from the right ), Kobishuri, Leuseri, Khopuri (from the left).

From etymological standpoint the name is derived from the Georgian words ცხენი (Cxeni, "horse") and წყალი (Tsqali, "water"), thereby meaning "horse water" and is therefore identified with the ancient Hippus river mentioned by Arrian (Periplus, 13).