Umbar Dere Gorge & Waterfall

Umbar Dere gorge & waterfall

One of the most unique natural beauties of Koytendag is its narrow valleys and long, rocky streams. Koytendag is home to several such streams, including “Umbar Dere,” “Darayi Dere,” “Kyrkgyz Deresi,” “Bulak Dere,” and “Khojagarawul Dere.”

In a remote part of Khojapil lies the picturesque Umbar-Dere Gorge, at the end of which is the 27-meter Umbar Waterfall, fed by the melting snows of the Kugitang Mountains.

Finding the gorge is quite easy—any local can point you in the direction of the waterfall, and the path to it is well-worn and easy to follow. The gorge is even visible on satellite images.

A rocky road leads to a dark crevice in the mountain range—this is Umbar Dere. As you approach, take a moment to notice the mountain peaks towering above the gorge; they are composed of white Cenomanian limestone from the Cretaceous period. We’ll take a closer look at them through a telephoto lens later.

In the summer, the bottom of the gorge is dry, allowing for easy passage. But in spring, when the snow begins to melt, the gorge fills with rushing water that bursts noisily into the plains.

The gorge is situated at an altitude of about 1,100 to 1,200 meters, so the daytime heat is not too intense, and in the shade of the gorge walls, it’s even cool.

As the gorge becomes deeper, caution is advised—there’s always the possibility of rocks falling from above.

At the bottom, you can occasionally find traces of campfires and various pieces of trash, as some Turkmens come here not just for a day or two but for extended stays to relax.

The gorge continues to grow deeper, narrower, and more imposing.

Finally, you reach the end—Umbar Waterfall. Since most of the snow in the mountains by end of summer melts, the waterfall turns into just a small stream, its waters breaking into fine mist as they hit the rocks.

By mid-September, the waterfall usually dries up completely, but for now, there’s still something to see.