Uchan-Su Waterfall

The highest waterfall in Ukraine is 98.5 meters high and bears different names, such as Kremasto Nero, Autkіns’kyi, Yaltyns’kyi, but the most famous name is associated with the Uchan-Su River, on which it is located and therefore bears the same name. Uchan-Su Waterfall can be found in the Crimea on the southern side of Ai-Petri Mountain. To get to this swift river you should overcome 7-8 kilometers from Yalta.

According to the legend, much time ago these lands used to be an arid area and the water appeared here thanks to one of the most beautiful girls of the village nearby. The mountain’s spirit had stolen her, but the young girl escaped in a rush to help people, who died because of the drought made by Angel of Death. Coming down from the mountains the girl turned into a swift current – Uchan-Su Waterfall, which means “flying water”.

Uchan-Su is a two cascade waterfall and at the base of the first one you may notice a statue of an eagle, under which water diverting structure is hidden. The city of Yalta is supplied with its water through Mogabyns’ke Reservoir. Water of the second cascade freely breaks against the rocks. They say Uchan-Su helps the locals to predict the weather – if its water is limpid and pure it is the right sign to have a walk in the mountains even if the sky is cloudy, but if the water is troubled one should expect bad weather.

Near the waterfall you may find a comfortable observation deck, where you can expect an unforgettable view of Uchan-Su, as well as the Yalta Forest and Mountain Reserve. Guides advise to come to Uchan-Su in winter or spring – the time it becomes full-flowing and can be seen even from Yalta. The waterfall dries up almost completely in a hot summer and at this period of time you can see a funny plate at its base: “the waterfall doesn’t work”. In winter its water freezes, thereby attracting alpinists. The first who climbed this icefall was Yiriy Lyshaev, nicknamed Fantik, in the 1980s.

Another indisputable advantage of Yaltyns’kyi Waterfall is a unique long-boled pinewood, where Pallas pines grow. These trees keep the air clean and fill it with fragrance, so your rest near the waterfall will be healing as well.

To get to Uchan-Su, you should go along Yalta-Bakhchysarai highway to the station Uchan-Su Waterfall (in Ukrainian Vodospad Uchan-Su).