Bear falls, Natural waterfall in Ile-Alatau National Park, Kazakhstan

Bear Falls is a waterfall in Ile-Alatau National Park that drops 30 meters down a rocky face on the southern slope of the Karash Ridge. The water cascades over smooth stone surfaces and creates a misty veil around the basin below.

Geologists trace the streambed to major tectonic movements about one million years ago; the falls itself has a glacial origin. The water drops 28 metres from a deep rock niche on the southern slope of the Karash range, where Bear Creek flows out from beneath the Zhambas Pass. The rocks here hold fossilised imprints of plants from the pre-glacial period.

Local legend tells of an elderly couple who lived alone in the gorge. When the old man disappeared while gathering firewood, his wife met a young horseman who asked why she did not recognise her own husband. He led her to a spring; after drinking, she became young again. The spring is called Molodilny, and visitors still fill containers with its water.

The trail to the falls starts at the 19th kilometre of Turgen Gorge and runs about 1.5 km to the waterfall. The stream stays below 12°C, and the falling water throws up a vapour cloud, so bring a jacket and footwear with grip.

The water maintains a constant temperature of 12 degrees Celsius year-round, regardless of season or weather conditions. The surrounding rocks bear traces of fossilized plant material from the pre-glacial era.