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The Chegemskoe Gorge is located in the middle part of Kabardino-Balkaria and divides the mountain zone of the republic into two parts, the northern one and the southern one. The Chegem River flows through the gorge. There is a place of stunning beauty here – the wall of Su-Auzu Waterfalls (their name means “water throat”).

It is the main attraction of the Chegemskaya Narrow. Interestingly, the waterfalls go out right from the rocks. They are also called Crying Waterfalls – it looks like rocks push out the streams of tears. In the winter the waterfalls freeze and form a huge ice cascade. Adai-Su, or Maiden’s Braid is the most powerful waterfall. It is located 200 meters from the road and 5 km from the narrows of the Chegem River.

The water falls from a steep cliff, from the height of 30 m. In warm season it is pleasant to swim here under the jets. The ancient Balkarian village of El-Tyubyu or Verkhny Chegem (Upper Chegem) is located higher in the gorge on the left bank of the Chegem River. It is the birthplace of the great Balkarian poet and sage Kaisyn Kuliyev. There are many interesting ancient monuments here: the family tower of Balkarukovs which is also called The Tower of Love. According to the legend, it was built by Akhtugan Balkarukov in order to defend the Kumyk beauty Kerime stolen by him from her relatives in Dagestan. The settlement of Bulungu is located 6 km from the village of Verkhny Chegem. Here the gorge splits into two branches - Bashil-Su and Kara-Auz-Su where the summer tourist centre “Chegem” - the former mountaineering camp – is situated.

The valley has pine and birch forests, alpine meadows are covered with exuberant vegetation. The valley itself is surrounded by the mountains of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Ridge. The pine forest houses the tourist centre named “Bashil”. “Chegem” in Russian means “broken land”. It is said that the word “chegem” was pronounced by the warrior called Karashauay who punched a hole in the rock when testing the strength and power of his horse. Now this place has a narrow canyon with rocky walls 300 meters high, as if sawn by the flow of the mountain river.

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The Chegemskie Waterfalls run out directly from the rocks, for this they are called Crying Waterfalls, because it looks as if the rocks are crying. In the winter the waterfalls freeze and form a huge ice cascade.

Adai-Su (Maiden’s Braid) is the most powerful waterfall. It is located 200 meters from the road and 5 km from the narrows of the Chegem River. The water falls from a steep cliff, from a height of 30 m. In warm season it is pleasant to swim here under the jets. There is a market next to the waterfalls where the highland women sell knitted things and things made of skins. The quality of the products deserves the highest praise.

The water falls from a steep cliff, from the height of 30 m. In warm season it is pleasant to swim here under the jets. The ancient Balkarian village of El-Tyubyu or Verkhny Chegem (Upper Chegem) is located higher in the gorge on the left bank of the Chegem River. It is the birthplace of the great Balkarian poet and sage Kaisyn Kuliyev. There are many interesting ancient monuments here: the family tower of Balkarukovs which is also called The Tower of Love. According to the legend, it was built by Akhtugan Balkarukov in order to defend the Kumyk beauty Kerime stolen by him from her relatives in Dagestan. The settlement of Bulungu is located 6 km from the village of Verkhny Chegem. Here the gorge splits into two branches - Bashil-Su and Kara-Auz-Su where the summer tourist centre “Chegem” - the former mountaineering camp – is situated.

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Legends

There is a sad legend about the formation of the Chegemskie Waterfalls. There was a small Balkarian village high in the mountains where a girl of a rare beauty lived. Her eyes were as blue as forest flowers in spring. She had black braids down to her ankles. Her blush was as pink as the snow-capped peaks at dawn. One day enemies came to this village and wanted to take the girls into slavery. The girls rushed to the cliffs, and jumped down into the abyss. Girls jumped, and their hair clung to shelves of the rocks. Thus the wall of the Chegemskie Waterfalls formed, and water jets are the hair of the undefeated highland women.