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Why are the Black Sea coast and the Rioni River valley densely populated?

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Snow-covered peaks and ridges of the Caucasus Mountains in Russia stretch across the landscape under a pale sky. — Caucasus Caucasus Mountains in Russia.

The Black Sea coast and the Rioni River valley are densely populated primarily because they are regions of intensive agricultural activity. These areas support large farm populations due to their favorable conditions for cultivating labor-intensive subtropical and commercial crops, such as tea, citrus fruits, the tung tree, and bamboo.123

The Rioni River valley, located within the fertile Kolkhida Lowland, has been transformed from formerly swampy terrain into a highly productive agricultural zone through extensive drainage and development programs. This agricultural productivity, combined with the region's mild climate, makes these areas particularly conducive to settlement compared to the sparsely populated alpine regions or arid steppes of the Caucasus.421