Waterfall Azhek, Natural waterfall in Khostinsky City District, Resort Town of Sochi, Russia.
Waterfall Azhek is a natural formation in a forested area south of Sochi that drops over several rocky steps. The water flows down about 10 meters through thick vegetation and creates small pools where it collects before continuing downstream.
The waterfall was formed roughly 40,000 to 50,000 years ago, when water dissolved the shale rocks of the Azhek riverbed. Its name comes from the Ubykh words zhe (snow) and k (son), giving "snowy son" or "born of snow", after the snow cap of Mount Sakharnaya where the river rises.
The name Azhek comes from Ubykh: zhe (azhe) means snow and k (short for kua) means son, so "snowy son" or "born of snow", after the snow cap of Mount Sakharnaya where the river rises. In Ubykh azhe also means deer, giving "son of the deer" or "place where deer graze". Kabardian and Abkhaz readings have also been proposed.
The waterfall lies in the Sochi National Park, 6.5 km from the village of Orekhovka, on the Azhek River where it joins the Sochi River. The approach is through difficult terrain, which keeps the area around the falls clean; wear sturdy shoes and expect wet, slippery ground.
The waterfall's name comes from Ubykh: zhe (azhe) means snow and k (a shortened kua) means son, giving "snowy son" or "born of snow", after the snow cap of Mount Sakharnaya where the Azhek River rises. Other readings give "son of the deer" or "place where deer roam".
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