Hydronym of Yusufeli District

Abstract

The Yusufeli district in Artvin is abundant in water resources, with over 150 rivers and lakes. The primary river of Yusufeli is the Chorokhi, also known as Çoruh in Turkish. All rivers and streams in the district are part of the Chorokhi basin. The tale originated in St. Near Baiburti - Mta Mesjid, which is 3239 meters above sea level. The river has a depth of 3,225 meters and a total length of 466 kilometers. Artvini district encompasses 150 kilometers of the area. Parkhlistskal, also known as Barhal çayı in Turkish, is the second largest and most significant river in the Yusufeli region, behind the Chorokhi River.
Unlike toponyms, the ancient names of hydronyms are seldom preserved today; the Turkish community and local residents, regardless of Turkish descent, commonly use the present official or Turkish names. Yusufel does not have any rivers suitable for navigation, and the local population's traditional lifestyle is less connected to water or rivers compared to their adjacent Lazes.
The naming of Yusufeli district is intriguing from historical and linguistic-cultural perspectives. In the Georgian-speaking villages of Yusufeli, there are two names for the same place: one is the official Turkish name, and the other is the traditional or so-called name. Folk music may have origins in Georgian, Turkish, Armenian, or unknown etymology.
Georgian-origin hydronyms include Utaikhev(i), Dadabera, Tspintskaro, Vani's khevi, Eliathkhevi's Khevi...Turkish: Bal Su, parmaklar Deresi, Kişla Deresi...Georgian-Turkish mixed rivers: Chanchakh Su, Didgole Deres, Zemovan Deres.
We analyzed the data collected in the villages of Yusufeli district and from the Ottoman archives, which provide valuable information.