This most interesting natural site is located at a considerable distance from the main tourist destinations. In order to get to it, you need to make some efforts, since the path to the Altai Mountains is very long. The Uchar waterfall is located on the small river Chulcha, a tributary of the Chulyshman. The famous waterfall is located about ten kilometers from the junction of these rivers. And these places deserve to be here at least once in a lifetime.
Uchar Waterfall in Altai
Officially, on geographical maps and in some local lore documents, this place is designated as the "Big Chulchinsky Waterfall". Usually, a waterfall is understood as a sheer fall of a stream of water from a certain height. And in the strict sense of the word, Uchar waterfall is not quite a waterfall. There is no steep cliff at this place. There is only a stream of water jumping over the stones for quite a long distance. According to one of the geological versions, the waterfall was formed here quite recently, in the last century, after a collapsed mountain slope blocked Chulcha. Often in geographical sources, the Uchar waterfall is defined as "cascading". And this definition can be considered the most accurate. Total height differencebetween the upper and lower levels of the river is approximately 160 meters. And the river overcomes this height with several jumps along large stone ledges.
With all the ambiguity of the definition of this geographical object, no one will dare to deprive him of the title of a waterfall. There is a simple criterion here - the Uchar waterfall cannot be passed either on kayaks or on inflatable rafts. Extreme athletes who get a dose of adrenaline in the process of overcoming rapids on mountain rivers bypass this place along the coast. However, it should be noted that the Chulcha River is not particularly suitable for rafting. For athletes, only some of its sections are of interest. The best way to get to the waterfall is on foot. Walking with a backpack in the Altai Mountains will be unforgettable. And at the end, the reward for your efforts will be the Uchar waterfall.
How to get to the waterfall in the best way?
The hike usually starts on the shore of Lake Teletskoye and takes about 3 hours in one direction. The first step is to cross the Chulyshman to the right bank. Next, you need to move up the path. It is easy to read, there is nowhere to turn off it, and therefore there is practically no chance of getting lost.
The walk will not be the easiest, you may need initial climbing skills. In several places the trail is quite narrow and passes over a cliff. There are safety ropes here. Particular care should be taken in rainy weather when the path becomes slippery. Along the way, you will cross several smallstreams, which, when rainfall can suddenly turn into serious obstacles. Making your way to the waterfall, you will have to climb about 300 meters from the starting point. But the noise of the Uchar waterfall will be heard from a great distance, which greatly improves orientation. The way back takes less time, because you have to move from top to bottom.
