Nature is called a brilliant sculptor, builder, creator. And indeed it is. No matter what man invents, no matter how hard he tries, he cannot argue with nature. It remains to recognize her unattainable perfection and silently admire the masterpieces created by her. One of them is Gegsky waterfall. Abkhazia is rich in natural beauties, but this waterfall is special. It is famous not only for its size. Several feature films were filmed here, and this fact also affects its popularity. Let's take a little virtual walk to the Gegsky waterfall and get acquainted with all the nuances that await us on the way.
Geographic characteristics
One of the largest in the immense Soviet Union, and now the largest in the new young republic, is Gegsky Falls (Abkhazia). Photos convey how powerful he is and how small people look against his background. The second, less popular name of this beauty is Cherkessky waterfall.
He was born by the hilly mountain river Gegoy, which is so unpredictable and fast that even rafting is not practiced here. Starting its journey in the Caucasus Mountains, it flows into the Bzyp River. Geghi's length is only 25 km. In this small segment, she manages to form many small waterfalls, and when she reaches the karst cleft, she dives into it and is hidden from sight for more than 300 meters. The exit from the dungeon is about 70 meters above the foot of the cliff. It is from this height that the wayward Gega collapses its waters, turning into a fabulously beautiful water stream, which Abkhazia is proud of. Gegsky waterfall is so impressive that it was involved in 4 feature films. Everyone knows about Ricky Tikki Tavi and Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty. The scenes “Sportloto-82” and “Date Tutashkhia” were also filmed at Gegsky Falls.
Location
Many tourists ask where the Gegsky waterfall is in Abkhazia. This unique natural site is located in the Gudauta district, on the Gagra Range, 6 km from the Ritsinsky Reserve and the lake of the same name. As the name suggests, the waterfall is located on the mountain river Gege. Regarding sea level, it is about 550 meters higher. Around the waterfall - untouched by human hand nature in all its pristine, sometimes harsh and riotous, sometimes bewitching dazzling beauty. It is about 60 km from the city of Gagra, and 80 km from Adler. Within a radius of several kilometers from the Gegsky waterfall is Lake Ritsa, as well as smaller, but no less beautiful waterfalls, Male Tears, Bird, Milky, Female Tears, where everyone makes a wish and binds ribbons to the tree branches.
Organized way to walk to the waterfall
A lot of unique natural attractions has a rather small Abkhazia. Gegsky Falls offers to visit almost every tour desk. This is possible from late April to November, because the rest of the time the road is littered with snow. Near the waterfall, by the end of winter, the snow cover reaches several meters. At the beginning of May, when all this is melting, the Gegsky waterfall (Abkhazia) is especially impressive with the revelry of the natural elements. Going there organized with a tour group is a good and economical option. The tour is worth only 500 rubles. The disadvantage of such a trip is too long a road. Excursion vehicles, as a rule, make many stops along the way (the so-called photo-minutes) when passengers leave to take unique pictures. Almost all tours include a visit to the Blue Lake, from the views of which are breathtaking, and the Stone Sack (Yupshar Canyon). Also, excursion routes almost always pass through the apiary, where mountain honey is sold , and through private catering points (barbecue). All this reduces the time spent at the waterfall. You should also be aware that upon entering the conservation area, an environmental tax will be charged from each passenger of the bus (unless this amount has been included in the price of the tour in advance). According to the latest data, adults paid 350 rubles each, children - 100 rubles each.
Private ride
The entrepreneurship of its citizens has always been famous for Abkhazia. Gegsky waterfall has become a profitable business for many of its residents. Now those tourists who do not like to travel in large groups can hire a private driver (he is also a guide). The path of private traders lies in the same places as the excursion group. The reason is trivially simple - all drivers have an agreement with the beekeeper and with the owners of barbecue, so such stops are difficult to avoid. In the clearing in front of the waterfall, there is the only cafe that offers drinks and barbecue from mountain roe deer. According to the reviews of tourists, both the owner, his restaurant and food are not attractive and of good quality, but they impress with unreasonably high prices. In the case of hiring a private car, there is a big advantage - you can ask the driver to stop where you like and for as long as you want. It is a pleasure from 6000 rubles for the whole daylight hours. Naturally, the environmental fee is paid separately.
Ride on Your Own
Those who travel on Abkhazian land in a personal car can visit all its attractions on their own. Of course, Gegsky Falls (Abkhazia) must certainly enter this list. How to get there without a guide? The main route runs from the city of Gagra. You need to go along the Sukhumi highway to the village of Bzypta, where at a rather large fork, turn left and follow the road to the mountains along the Bzypi river. The blue ribbon will then come very close to the track, then move away from it at a considerable distance. The views around are fascinating. The path will lead to the Blue Lake, where you just need to make a stop for a photo shoot and a wonderful vacation. In streams flowing into the lake, water, like a tear, is clear and clean. And what a delicious! A little further from the Blue Lake, the Bzyp River turns to the right, and the road snaking between the rocks and spurs continues to run forward. Somewhere in a couple of kilometers there will be a branch to the left. This is the very road, which in itself is already a tourist attraction.
Access to the waterfall
From the fork to the end point of the route - a little over 5 km. Overcome them, and Abkhazia, Gegsky waterfall will definitely remain in memory for a lifetime. The road to it can be compared with an extreme attraction. It is so rocky that only off-road vehicles can pass through it, as the corresponding traffic sign warns. Therefore, many travelers leave their cars here and transfer to UAZs of local enterprising Abkhazians. But the stones under the wheels are half the trouble. The road, winding upwards in unpredictable zigzags, is so narrow that sometimes it seems: the wheels go along the very edge of the cliff. It is especially impressive when the stones disturbed by the UAZ slide off the road and roll down with noise. Many tourists here either squeal or close their eyes and pray. In such narrow areas, two cars cannot go apart. One of them has to take back to a wider place.
Waterfall
But here are all the difficulties behind. The car stops safely on a rocky meadow. There are only a few steps left that you need to go through the bridge through the hilly river. Behind it, in all its frantic and devilish glory, the Gegsky waterfall (Abkhazia) is casting its waters. Photos in no way can convey his roaring, imbued with the boom of the district power and fantastic beauty.
To approach it closer than 50 meters and stay dry is unrealistic. If the sun is in the sky, streams of water shield the sun's rays so that a rainbow is obtained. Even in the heat and heat near the waterfall is quite fresh. The water in it is so cool that here you can see the remains of snow in July. Near the waterfall dozens of thin streams flow from invisible cracks and cracks in the rocks. The water in them is amazing, so you should take empty eggplants with you. On the left side is an impressive cave washed by a water stream. Its width is 35 meters and its height is about 15 meters. Inside, from the "ceiling", water jets also flow and drip.
Circassian waterfall
Not only among vacationers, but also among cavers, Abkhazia is popular. Gegsky waterfall has long attracted their attention with a cave, from which it is born. It has that second, unpopular name, Circassian Falls. The cave has a karst nature and hides several corridors, grottoes and siphons. Its length is 315 meters, and its area is over 2000 square meters. The width of this natural tunnel through which Gega flows before becoming a waterfall is 7 meters. Speleologists from Siberia and Krasnoyarsk conquered the Circassian Falls. The mountain range where the Gegsky Falls is born is called Arabica (Arbaika), which means “cockscomb”. It is the highest in the region of the Western Caucasus.
Gegsky waterfall (Abkhazia), reviews
Every year, hundreds of tourists flock to this miracle of nature. Everyone has the same opinion about the waterfall - bewitching, fantastically beautiful, powerful. Here you clearly begin to understand how small a person is in comparison with the power of nature. What other advantages do tourists note:
- uniquely clean air;
- icy, transparent and unusual taste water;
- very beautiful nature around the waterfall and on the way to it;
- extraordinary sensations near the waterfall.
What are the disadvantages of the trip:
- terrible road;
- high prices and tasteless food in a cafe by the waterfall.