One of the most beautiful natural attractions Armenia has to offer is the Shaki Waterfall located in the southern region. Located just a few minutes from the city of Sisian in the Syunik Province lays this 18 meters high waterfall. Also used for hydroelectric purposes this quiet little waterfall offers a great view, a place to picnic, and a get away from the daily noise. Most of the water comes from the Vorotan River and to reach here is very accessible.
I visited Shaki Waterfall in June on a slight overcast day and to get here you must past a small power station that’s currently undergoing some renovations. Once you get past it there is a small trail that will take you to this natural oasis. When I got there the waterfall was not “on” but after a few minutes the power station workers released the water and the scenery was worth the wait! There are trails to the left of the waterfall that will take you to the top if you want and a little path to the right that will give you a good vista point too.
There’s a very interesting legend about this waterfall too. Accordingly, during the invasion of Temur-Lenk aka Tamerlane, Mongols kidnapped 93 virgin women from the Gegharkuni village for their commander. It was here that they asked their captors if they could clean themselves up and bathe in the Vorotan River. The captors agreed and the undressed and jumped in to the river and sank and disappeared. Only one woman, a blued eyed woman, with long curly hair by the name of Shaki swam across the river to escape. After the invaders managed to catch up with her she managed to flee and hide under the foamy water. After this incident, that’s how the waterfall and nearby village got its name!
Anyways, if you’re on your way to Tatev Monastery or Karahunj (Armenia’s Stone Henge) then it’s definitely worth the small detour to see this natural beauty in the south.
Happy traveling....