Dating to the Soviet era, Chiatura's public cable cars were built to facilitate the manganese mining industry, which formed the bedrock of the town's economy in Georgia. Sixty years later, 15 of Chiatura's 21 cable car routes are still running, covering a total length of over 6000 meters, and they are still the quickest and most convenient way of getting around, despite their advanced years.

A boy stands at the door of a 60-year-old cable car in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

A cable car passes above the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

People pass a cable car station that is not running during a power cut in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

People sit in front of a cable car station in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Lasha Ghughunishvili, 32, operates cable cars from his booth in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

A commuter pushes a 60-year-old cable car in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

A cable car passes above apartment buildings in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 25, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

A conductor sits inside a 60-year-old cable car in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

A communication device is seen inside a cable car in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 25, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Commuters travel by cable car in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 25, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

An icon of Jesus is seen inside a cable car in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 25, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Commuters chat inside a cable car in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

A commuter looks out from a cable car in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

The town of Chiatura is seen from inside a cable car, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

A cable car passes above the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

A 60-year-old cable car passes above the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

A commuter looks out of the window of a 60-year-old cable car in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Malkhaz Kapanadze, 36, oils and checks a cable car during maintenance work in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Cable car operator Tea Kekenadze, 30, watches commuters entering the cable car in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 25, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

A 60-year-old cable car passes above the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

A cable car casts a shadow on a residential building in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Fati Ghavtadze, 45, operates a cable car from her booth in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 25, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Cable car control devices are seen inside an operator's booth in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 25, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Eliza Kobiashvili, 56, operates 60-year-old cable cars from her booth in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Commuters get out of a 60-year-old cable car in the town of Chiatura, some 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, September 12, 2013. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)