Abzanovsky Waterfall

Abzanovsky Waterfall, also known as the Assinsky or Mirror Waterfall, lies in the Arkhangelsky district of Bashkortostan, near the villages of Abzanovo and Asy, roughly 150 kilometers from Ufa. A small stream falls from a limestone rock known locally as the Weeping Stone, dropping about six meters. The waterfall is fed by a spring, so its water stays clear and cold even in dry weather. Since 1965 the site has held the status of a natural monument.

What to see

The waterfall looks very different depending on the season. In summer the flow almost dries up: water seeps in a thin film over the moss-covered rock, creating a mirror-like effect that gave the place one of its names. In winter, by contrast, the waterfall turns into a solid wall of ice covering the rock from top to bottom. In spring and after rains the stream becomes fuller and more noticeable.

History and legends

About a hundred years ago, in early-20th-century guidebooks, the place was known under different names — the Weeping Stone or the Weeping Cliff. According to local accounts, the waterfall acquired its familiar look, with a steady falling stream, only relatively recently, within the last couple of decades.

The waterfall's small size is linked to its third name, "Men's Tears": the belief holds that men cry rarely and sparingly, so a waterfall of tears from a man should be modest in size. The name "Mirror" is explained not only by the summer effect on the wet rock but also by the stream's resemblance to an old mirror set in a massive carved frame.

Getting there

The waterfall is about 90 kilometers from Ufa. By car, take the Ufa–Beloretsk highway to the turn toward Abzanovo; the road is paved the whole way. It is also reachable by commuter train from Ufa to the "22 km" stop, from where a footpath along the riverbank leads from the village of Asy to the waterfall, about a kilometer long. In summer the river above the waterfall can be forded.