Chuy Region, Sokuluk Gorge. The waterfall is located 80 km southwest of Bishkek. The hike from the parking area takes 1-1.5 hours.
The height of the waterfall is about 60 m. The height above sea level is 2200 m. The water, when falling, hardly reaches the ground, dispersing and turning into a cloud of mist. The spray from the waterfall can be felt from about 200 meters away, and it is cold to stand near the waterfall even on the hottest day. The giant column of water formed by the waterfall can be seen from 10-12 kilometers away.
Sokuluk Waterfall is one of the highest and most beautiful waterfalls of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range. It is often referred to as the "Dove Waterfall." In sunlight, the waterfall takes on a bluish hue, and a rainbow plays in its mist. After sunset, the cascade of the waterfall resembles gray smoke.
The Sokuluk waterfall is considered the most mysterious. No one knows where the source of its powerful flow is, as there is neither a glacier nor a snowfield above it. Swimming in the waterfall is best in summer when the air warms up to 35 degrees.
The road to the waterfall takes 1.5-2 hours and runs along the riverbank. Along the way, there is a stunning view of one of the peaks of the Kyrgyz range, "Black Spire" (4000 m). The rock got its name due to its dark color, which does not change in any weather.
The Sokuluk Gorge is especially picturesque in spring and summer when the groves of Turkestan birch nearby are green, and the slopes of the gorge are covered with greenery and flowers. Here, hawthorn, wild currants, barberry, and rose hips grow. Additionally, during this time, strawberries, wild raspberries, blackberries, and other berries ripen. Wild animals such as wild boars, mountain goats, and wolves inhabit the gorge, which can be seen early in the morning or after sunset. A small Sokuluk waterfall, 7-8 meters high, is located 1.5-2 hours of walking from the first waterfall. Once, there were many waterfalls in the gorge, but now they have almost all disappeared.
