   racha (also raÄha, , raÄÊ¼a) is a highland area in western georgia, located in the upper rioni river valley and hemmed in by the greater caucasus mountains. under georgiaâs current subdivision, racha is included in the racha-lechkhumi and kvemo svaneti region (mkhare) as the municipalities of oni and ambrolauri. racha occupies 2,854&nbsp;km2 in the north-eastern corner of western georgia. spurs of the greater caucasus crest separates racha from the georgian historical regions of svaneti and lechkhumi on the north-west and from imereti on the south, while the main caucasus ridge forms a boundary with russiaâs north ossetia. on the east, racha is bordered by breakaway south ossetia, officially part of georgiaâs shida kartli region. ==history==  thumb|200px|left|an old fortress in racha in the 19th century. racha had been part of colchis and caucasian iberia since ancient times and its main town oni was said to have been founded by king parnajom of iberia in the 2nd century bc. upon creation of the unified georgian kingdom in the 11th century, racha became one of the duchies (saeristavo) within it. rati of the baghvashi family was the first duke (eristavi) appointed by king bagrat iii. descendants of rati and his son kakhaber, eponymous father of rachaâs ruling dynasty of kakhaberisdze, governed the province until 1278. in 1278 king david vi narin abolished the duchy during his war against the mongols. in the mid-14th century, the duchy was restored under the rule of the charelidze family. the next dynasty of chkhetidze governed racha from 1465 to 1769. vassals of th
Former_provinces_of_Georgia_(country) Historical_regions_of_Georgia_(country) Racha