Waterfall "Silver streams" (Crimea): description and photo

Until quite recently, residents of the peninsula and guides were happy to show visitors a magnificent waterfall "Silver Streams" (Crimea). Where is this miracle and why do we talk about it in the past tense? You will learn about this from our article.

The Silver Stream waterfall (Crimea) is located in the Grand Canyon area, in the midst of an ancient beech forest. Travelers can immediately notice it thanks to an overhanging cap covered with moss. From here the waterfall is torn down by countless sparkling streams of water. They rush down into the dark grotto.

The waterfall "Silver Streams" (Crimea) is especially beautiful in bright light. Photo, even the most qualitative, is not able to convey this beauty. It resembles a huge sparkling musical instrument. Perhaps that's why it got its name.

From the history of the waterfall

The water that forms the waterfall flows out of the cave. It is characterized by an increased content of dissolved active calcite. In the daytime, it precipitates on the surface, enveloping everything that is located in the water: branches, leaves, stones. Over time, all this is cemented into a solid mass, forming a tufted formation. Due to this feature of water, a waterfall appeared.

Many thousands of years ago, the gorge was overwhelmed with fallen trees and stones. Over time, the water condensed and cemented the mass and created a kind of natural dam. Through it, the brook overgrew with moss, the lower branches of which were covered with a thin layer of calcite. They retained clay particles and grains of sand, and everything cemented calcite. The moss grew quite rapidly, and in the place of a small stream a cornice formed from calcite. Experts call it a forehead-canopy.

By the end of 2015, its thickness was more than two meters. On the side of the waterfall are small caves, grottoes with tufts and calcite tubes. One of these caves is quite large, it is called Muravinoy.

Dome-visor

It's amazing what kind of intricate forms nature sometimes creates. An unusual dome-visor was the main decoration of this waterfall. It was formed by limestone tuff, deposited by the Sary-Uzen River for many thousands of years. In addition, the moss, so abundantly growing on the peak, also contributed to the appearance of tuff, as it actively absorbs carbon dioxide from the water. The less carbon dioxide in it, the less its dissolving power. Without carbon dioxide (or with its small content), water does not retain calcium carbonate, and therefore it is deposited in the form of limestone tuff.

This process in the channel of the Sary-Uzeni River is moving rather quickly. Among the stones, the explorers sometimes find objects that the mountain tourists left here a few years ago, but they are already completely covered with tuff crust.

Yusupov's land

It was in this place in the XIX century that the hunting grounds of the princes Yusupovs were located. If you walk 200 meters from the waterfall, you will find yourself at a pond filled with a spring from a rock cleft. It is called the Yusupov Lake. It was arranged for trout breeding. She was served at the table of the princes Yusupovs.

The lake flows down to the waterfall. Here is the Yellow Cave. You can get to it if, lying on your stomach, cautiously creep along the channel of a stream under a canopy. You will find yourself in a cave with a large hall and a cascade of an underwater waterfall.

Waterfall after the 90s of last century

Surprisingly, until the mid-nineties of the last century, only specialists and local residents knew about this amazing pearl of the peninsula. Until that time, the waterfall did not even have a specific name. He was called both Crystal and Glass.

When the tourist business began to develop in the country in the nineties, a picturesque and unusual waterfall, located 1.2 km from the road, drew the attention of entrepreneurs. A convenient road was built for him, and signs were placed. Since then, in the tourist routes appeared the waterfall "Silver Streams" (Crimea). To him began to bring numerous tourists who came to delight from the beauty they saw.

What does a waterfall look like?

The waterfall "Silver Streams" (Crimea) does not differ either in fullness or in height. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of the peninsula and its guests considered it to be the most beautiful, the most original, the most lyrical. It was almost impossible to meet a man who did not admire the Silver Streams.

In the summer time, numerous groups of excursionists visited him. The waterfall "Silver Streams" (Crimea) is located on the Yellow River (Sary-Uzen). It is quite suitable for bathing. The river has several baths filled with warm water.

If tourists came to the waterfall after the rain, they were struck by an unusual curtain made of silvery beads. Behind them you could hide and make a memorable photo.

Lighting

Great importance in the perception of this natural miracle was played by the illumination of the waterfall. Until about 11 o'clock it was lit by the direct rays of the sun. The emerald moss that covered the forehead of the waterfall shimmered and shone with droplets of water. He, like the neat little fringe of a mermaid, let through thousands of water jets. They shimmer with all the colors, and at that time they become not silver, but diamante. When the sun was playing on the waterfall strings, it seemed that it was not water flowing at all, but they were ringing the threads with crystal beads. All those who visited this place claim that if all the waterfalls just make a noise, then the "Silver Streams" are sung in a sonorous voice.

Waterfall in winter time

In the cool period, the flowing jets of tuff streaked into the cavity of a rather spacious grotto. If you watch from the side, the waterfall looked like a huge beast, tilted his head, from which streams of water flow. In winter, the streams freeze, and at this time, one of his former names, Crystal, was the most suitable for this natural creation.

The tuff peak in winter was covered with bright green moss, from above it was usually sprinkled with snow, through which streamed thin streams of water. The rocks of the waterfall thickly covered the openwork cascades of transparent icicles, columns of stalagmites and stalactites. It was impossible to tear off this extraordinary beauty.

And now it's time to tell why we are talking about this picturesque waterfall in the past tense. In early 2016, the waterfall "Silver Streams" collapsed. In the Crimea this news was received with regret. It was not the most famous waterfall in the world, nevertheless, the Crimeans were very fond of spending time here and were very proud of this natural miracle.

In the Crimea, the waterfall "Silver Streams" collapsed

I must say that the researchers reacted to this event as a natural and even expected. The moment came when the peak (tuff) of the waterfall gained its critical mass. Snow, frost and water increased the load, which he could no longer sustain. Strong frost, the impact of running water over time destroyed the calcareous rocks of tuff.

On the night of January 8, 2016, as a result of significant temperature changes and severe frosts, followed by a sharp warming, the "Silver Streams" waterfall collapsed in the Crimea. The cantilever part of the waterfall collapsed (tuff block with moss). Scientists believe that her age reached almost 50 thousand years. A huge fallen boulder closed the view of the waterfall as it approached it.

Researchers, for a long time watching the waterfall, believe that the cause of collapse is in adverse natural factors. They are sure that this should happen sooner or later, because in the sixties there was a threat of collapse, and even works were carried out to strengthen it.

Scientists are making disappointing predictions - in the near future we will not see the waterfall in its previous form. To form such a peak, which created the effect of a murmuring echo, nature will need at least ten thousand years.

Waterfall "Silver Streams" (Crimea): how to get there?

The easiest way to do this is from the resorts of Big Yalta. You should take a shuttle bus (or use your own transport), the next one in the direction of Bakhchisaray. The route passes through Ai-Petrinskaya jail - road T0117. Do not reach three kilometers to the village of Falcon, turn left and follow another 2 km to the cliff "Eagle Zalet".