and long and cool
summers. The average annual temperature is 4.9 degrees Celsius. January is the
coldest month with an average temperature of -5.2 degrees Celsius while July is
the warmest month with an average temperature of 14.4 degrees Celsius. The
absolute minimum recorded temperature is -34 degrees Celsius and the absolute
maximum is 32 degrees Celsius. Stepantsminda’s average annual precipitation is
790 mm. (31.1 inches). The town is dominated by large mountains on
all sides. The most notable mountain of the region, Mount Kazbek, lies immediately to the west of town. The second most
prominent peak, Mt. Shani, rises to an elevation of 4,451 meters (14,600 feet) above
sea level, 9 kilometers to the east of Stepantsminda. The town is located 10
kilometers to the south of the famous Darial
Gorge.
