Burkhan-Bulak Waterfall

Burkhan-Bulak falls in several stages down a cliff at the head of the Kora gorge in the Dzungarian Alatau, with a total drop for its four cascades usually given as 168 metres, of which the three lower cascades visible from below make up about 114, which makes it the highest waterfall in Kazakhstan by the commonly quoted figures, though measurements of multi-stage falls vary with how they are counted. Reaching it means going up the Kora valley from Tekeli, some forty kilometres of rough track passable only by four-wheel drive or truck, then walking the last stretch, which is why most visits are overnight camps rather than day trips. The gorge itself is spruce forest, meadow and river, and it sees very few people.

The landscape

• The falls - the multi-stage drop at the head of the gorge.
• The Kora valley - spruce forest and meadow along the approach.
• The river - the Kora running down the gorge floor.
• High pasture - the meadows and herders' camps in summer.

When to go

June to September, when the track is open and the snow has gone; the gorge is inaccessible in winter and spring. Flow is strongest in June with snowmelt. Nights are cold at altitude even in summer.

Practical notes

Access requires a serious four-wheel drive or hired truck and takes several hours each way. There are no facilities of any kind in the gorge and camping is the norm. River crossings can be impassable after rain. The height figures quoted vary considerably between sources.

Nearby

Tekeli lies at the gorge mouth; Lake Alakol is northeast.

Key facts