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]
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]
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]