Gadelsha Falls

Gadelsha Falls is a protected hydrological natural monument in the Baymaksky District of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia, about 25 km from the town of Sibay. It is considered the largest waterfall in Bashkortostan: the water drops over three steps with a total height of about 15–17 metres.

The waterfall is also known as Ibragimovsky, as Khudolaz Falls after the Khudolaz River, a right tributary of the Ural, and as Tuyalas (Tuyalyas), which means "single stream" in Bashkir. Its official name comes from the neighbouring village of Gadelsha. Some descriptions place it on the Khudolaz itself, others on one of its tributaries.

The waterfall

Gadelsha Falls has three cascades. The upper one is the smallest and gentlest, about 1.2 metres high; the two lower ones are about 7 metres each. The steps are formed by fractured rocks: siliceous shale, porphyrite and tuff. Depending on the source, the total height is given as anything from 15 to more than 17 metres.

The flow depends strongly on the season and on rainfall. It is strongest in spring, weakens noticeably in summer, and in winter the waterfall freezes into a small ice formation.

Natural monument

The waterfall was declared a natural monument on 17 August 1965 and is protected by the state. The protected area covers 11 hectares and includes 1.3 km of the riverbed. Because it is easy to reach, it is a popular tourist attraction: day trips come here not only from Bashkortostan but also from the neighbouring Orenburg and Chelyabinsk Oblasts.

Getting there

The nearest town is Sibay, about 25 km away. From Sibay, drive west through Stary Sibay, past the Yuldash children's camp (after it the road turns north) and the Gadelsha holiday centre. Cars are left in a forest clearing, from where it is about 350 metres on foot to the waterfall. The exact location is marked on the map on this page.

Photos by Pesotsky