Landmarks of Almaty.

“There are enough objective reasons for a person to aspire to preserve wild nature. But, ultimately, he can save nature only by his love for her. Since a person cannot live in this world without beauty, if only he loves and appreciates the environment at least a little, nature will be able to get rid of the danger threatening it ”

Jean Dorst.

The natural and unnatural wonders of Central Tien-Shan.

Uzun-Kargaly waterfall is located on the southern slope of the eastern part of the Zailiysky Alatau mountain range in the Zhambyl district of Almaty region. The waterfall is located 10 kilometers south of the village of Kargaly and 54 kilometers south-west of Almaty.
To the village of Kargaly, it is best to get on the Upper Kaskelen highway, it is a convenient and fast way. The village of Kargaly (Fabrichny) is interesting because here in the spring of 1908, Vernyi merchant Sergei Grigorievich Shakhvorostov, with his son-in-law Fyodor Pestov, decided to build a cloth factory.
For the production of cloth need wool and plenty of pure water. All this is enough here, plus cheap labor. In the spring of 1909, the factory walls were built, and the roof was closed in the summer. September 25, 1909 the first batch of wool entered the weaving shop.
The waterfall is located at an altitude of 1340 meters above sea level on the right tributary Uzun-Kargaly - Big Shymbulak. The waterfall is located in a rocky canyon, the length of which is about 500 meters. The canyon ends up with a vertical rock wall, from the 15-meter height of which a thundering stream of water breaks down.
The waterfall is very spectacular, its only drawback is that the sun's rays do not fall here, and the rocky walls cover the waterfall from all sides. The Big Shymbulak River originates from numerous springs located at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level.
The water is drained and filtered from the moraine lake and the few glaciers of the southern slope of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Part of the streams, which later form the channel of the Big Shymbulak flows from under the Archaly-Kezen pass with a height of 2808 meters above sea level.
From the water intake on the Uzun-Kargaly river, a motor road was laid up the gorge, which stretches to the dam, then a well-trodden path goes from the dam. It is better to leave the car at the water intake, there are gates here that are always closed.
From here to the waterfall, which is located on the river Big Shymbulak 8 kilometers. Before the dam, which was built on the river Uzun-Kargaly, you will have to climb the left side of the river, then go along the dam to the left side of the river and continue to the waterfall.
One kilometer above the dam, on the right bank of the river, rock carvings of wild animals are on a large stone. We pass right, a small tributary Small Shymbulak, from here to the waterfall is 3 kilometers. From the mouth of the Big Shymbulak river to the waterfall there are about 600 meters left, this section of the path passes along the riverbed, along the stones, it is necessary to overcome large stones, before the waterfall a level place awaits us.

Enlightener and photos:
Alexander Petrov.