Chegem Waterfalls

Chegem Waterfalls is a cascade system in Chegemsky District, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia, where multiple water streams tumble down limestone cliffs along the gorge. The flows pass through a narrow formation surrounded by steep walls, sending spray over moss patches and wet rock faces.

The gorge formed through centuries of erosion that cut through layers of soft limestone and shifted the water's course. Official designation as a natural monument came in 1978 after geological interest in the formation grew.

The name refers to the river that flows through this gorge and has been part of mountain people's stories for generations. Vendors sell traditional felt goods and smoked cheese along the paths leading to the viewing points.

Access follows a road with small parking areas near the main points, from which paths lead to platforms along the gorge. Surfaces can be slippery, and moisture from the spray covers the rocks throughout the year.

In winter, the streams turn into thick ice columns that cling to the rock walls and sometimes reach down to the gorge floor. Visitors sometimes see frozen curtains hanging in place in the cold air and only dissolving in spring.