Everyone with green eyes can trace their ancestors back to this mountainous region

Green-eyed people can trace their ancestry back to the Caucasus Mountains, where ancient trade routes spread the rare gene worldwide.

Green eye of a woman.

People with green eyes make up 2% of the world's population (Image: Getty)

A striking genetic connection unites people with green eyes across the globe.

Many of them can trace their ancestral roots back to the Caucasus Mountains, a region that serves as a natural bridge between Asia and Europe

According to researchers, this mountainous area, rich in both culture and history, is likely the cradle of the rare gene responsible for green eyes.

Green eyes, which are only present in about 2% of the world’s population, are often considered a genetic anomaly. 

However, the presence of green-eyed populations across multiple continents may be explained by the ancient trade and migration routes that passed through the Caucasus. 

Eye XXL

The origins of green eyes are thought to date back at least 6,000 to 10,000 years (Image: Getty)

This region, which stretches between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, historically served as a vital crossroads for travellers, traders, and military expeditions, making it an ideal setting for genetic diversity to spread.

For thousands of years, these routes facilitated the movement of people and their genes across vast distances. 

As populations mingled, the gene responsible for green eyes could have been carried from the Caucasus into Europe, the Middle East, and even parts of Central Asia. 

The genetic dispersal, combined with the unique geography and cultural interactions of the region, may explain the green-eyed populations found in various countries today.

The origins of green eyes are thought to date back at least 6,000 to 10,000 years, and while they remain rare, their global presence can be traced to the pivotal role of the Caucasus Mountains in shaping human history and migration patterns. 

This unique region, often overlooked, continues to reveal fascinating insights into how genes travel across generations and continents.

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