Two islands once existed on the Kura River in the center of Tbilisi.
Modern.az reports, citing Georgian media, that one of these islands was Ortachala Island. It was located between the main channel of the Kura River and its right branch. Currently, the Ortachala Hydroelectric Power Plant operates in that area.
The other island was Madatov Island. In the 18th century, historian Vakhushti Bagrationi called this area "New Garden," and later the island became known as Orbeliani Island.
After General Valerian Madatov purchased the island in the 19th century, it was named Madatov Island. In the 1920s and 1930s, after a dam was built on the right bank of the Kura River, the island merged with the city.
The islands were located in the part of Tbilisi inhabited by Azerbaijanis, and there were residential houses of our compatriots there.
In the 1930s, by decision of one of the Soviet leaders, Lavrentiy Beria, one of the branches of the Kura River was dried up, as a result of which the island completely became part of the city territory, and a road was built on the site of the former riverbed.
