Chegem Waterfalls

About this place

The Chegem Waterfalls are a group of falls protected as a natural monument, on tributaries of the Chegem River in the Chegemsky District of Kabardino-Balkaria in the North Caucasus, about 32 km in a straight line south-west of Nalchik and 55 km from it by road. The nearest villages are Nizhny Chegem and Khushto-Syrt. There are three waterfalls. The first, 2 km south of the village of Nizhny Chegem, is the Small Chegem Waterfall, or Adai-Su, «Maiden's Braid», about 30 m high and the most powerful of the group. South of Khushto-Syrt begins the Chegem gorge, which narrows to just 25 m, and inside it are the Great Chegem Waterfalls. The Great Waterfalls stream down in long, thin threads over tall rock walls streaked with brown, gold and green, falling into the turquoise Chegem River that rushes along the floor of the gorge. In winter the falls freeze into columns and curtains of ice, turning the gorge into a completely different sight. The waterfalls are reached by car along the gorge road, and small stalls and cafés stand by the Great Waterfalls. Rocks near the water are slippery, so wear good shoes. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Russia, and non-Russian bank cards may not work, so read the current advice before you plan.