Tenginka Waterfalls

The Tenginka Waterfalls (Tenginskiye vodopady) are a cascade of waterfalls on a left tributary of the Shapsukho River beyond the village of Tenginka, in the Tuapse district of Krasnodar Krai. The resort village of Lermontovo on the Black Sea coast is about 7 km away, and Dzhubga is not far either, which makes the falls one of the most visited natural sights on this stretch of the coast.

What to see

There are three main waterfalls. The first, the largest and loudest, drops about 15 metres into a pool of clear bluish water. The second, about 8 metres high, slides down a rock ledge, and the third is slightly lower, up to 8 metres. Further up the stream, according to guidebooks, there are some twenty more small and medium waterfalls.

Visitors reach the second waterfall by an unusual cable car with open cabins driven by pedals, known locally as a bicycle cable car. A path to the third waterfall starts to the right of the first one. The cascades are surrounded by mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest, and the shaded trail follows the stream bed with small bridges and stairs along the way.

History

The Shapsukho River, 41 km long, rises on the western slope of the Main Caucasus Range and flows into the Black Sea at Lermontovo. The village of Tenginka, which gave the falls their name, was named after the Tenginsky Infantry Regiment, stationed in the valley during the Caucasian War. In 1926 the village had 117 households and about 640 inhabitants.

The valley has been inhabited for a very long time: the Tenginka Middle Palaeolithic site lies on the left bank of the Shapsukho at the south-eastern edge of the village, and guidebooks mention dolmens nearby. Mount Plyakho, 618 metres high, rises close to the village; its Adyghe name is translated as "the mountain you watch from".

The legend of Lolita and Leila

The falls have a legend of their own. A rich khan once lived here with two daughters, Lolita, the elder, and Leila, the younger. The sisters fell in love with poor young men and refused wealthy suitors. The khan held a tournament, but the daughters' sweethearts won it, and the furious father locked the girls in towers.

The lovers fled, but the guards caught up with them in the forest. Lolita cried out that the sisters would become waterfalls and their beloved dark grottoes, and the prophecy came true at once. The khan rode to the spot and, overcome with grief, turned into a dry tree by the water. Ever since, the loud and fast waterfall has been called Lolita and the calm one Leila.

Getting to the Tenginka Waterfalls

From the centre of Lermontovo it is about 5 km to Tenginka along the road up the Shapsukho valley. In the village, follow the signs and turn onto a gravel road at the Armenian church, then drive about 3 km more to the car park. From there the falls are 800-900 metres on foot, roughly 10-15 minutes. You can come by car, on foot or by minibus: routes 166 and 180 run from Tuapse to Tenginka.

There is an entrance fee. In the tourist season a souvenir stall and a small cafe are open by the falls, and in summer excursions come from Lermontovo and Dzhubga.