Waterfall on Left Gorbaty Spring, Waterfall in Shkotovsky District, Russia

The Waterfall on Left Gorbaty Spring drops 13 metres, by some accounts 15.5, over a stepped basalt ledge on the Left Gorbaty Klyuch stream, a left tributary of the Steklyanukha, at 570 metres above sea level. The river valley here is 35 metres wide. About 100 metres downstream, on the right bank, stands a wall of hexagonal basalt columns formed as the rock cooled.

The waterfall was designated a regional nature monument on 14 August 1987. It is the highest and most visited waterfall of the Shkotovsky Plateau, formed by Cenozoic basalts.

The Russian name 'Unexpected' refers to how visitors suddenly encounter this formation while exploring the remote landscape. The waterfall has become part of how locals understand and value their natural surroundings.

From the Vladivostok–Partizansk highway, turn north at the village of Tsentralnoye onto a timber road. After about 8 km on the dirt road, look for trees tied with ribbons on the left, where you can park. A trail then descends left to the waterfall. The dirt road becomes very muddy in rain.

Winter ice formations create intricate patterns along the basalt columns that look completely different from the summer landscape. These seasonal transformations give each visit a distinct appearance.