Baga-Zjombolok, Natural waterfall in eastern Siberia, Russia.
Baga-Zjombolok is a 20–22 m waterfall on the narrow Bagha-Zhombolok channel of the Zhombolok River in Buryatia's Okinsky District. The channel crosses a flat lava field before dropping over the edge of the Oka River canyon, near the confluence with the Oka Sayanskaya.
The waterfall was first documented in the 19th century, when the Russian geographer and prince Pyotr Kropotkin visited the area. In 2014 the site was improved with a perimeter fence, viewing platforms, a staircase down to the water, a platform beneath the falls and changing cabins.
For local residents the waterfall is a sacred site, and a small shrine pavilion, a burkhan, stands at the top of the falls. The narrow channel that feeds it is called Baga-Zhombolok, the name by which the place is also known.
The waterfall lies on the Baga-Zhombolok channel where it drops into the canyon of the Oka Sayanskaya. A road allows visitors to drive right up to it by car, and since 2014 a fence, viewing platforms, a staircase down to the water and changing cabins have been installed. In winter the fall freezes into a large stalactite and stalagmite.
In winter the waterfall freezes into a large stalactite and stalagmite of ice, as the Russian sources describe the frozen forms. The site was improved in 2014 with a perimeter fence, viewing platforms, a staircase down to the water and changing cabins.
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