Waterfall "Girl's Tears"… This romantic name was given to several jets sliding over the rocks. When the water, clean and transparent, quietly rushes down, does not fall with a roar, splashes and noise, but sadly flows over sheer stones, then, as a rule, beautiful and sad legends about a crying girl arise.
The most famous of the many
Waterfall "Girl's Tears" is not far from the Carpathians, in the Ternopil region, in Altai, in the Crimea. And also in the caves of the Samara region and near the city of Sochi.
There is a stunningly beautiful waterfall in Adygea, but the name is slightly different - "Girl's Braids". He is really joyful, as if the girl, knowing the beauty of her braids, encourages everyone to admire them.
Most often, at the mention of the crying beauty, the Abkhazian waterfall "Girl's Tears" appears in the performance. This unique natural monument lives up to its name. Thousands of thin streams make their way through the wall and run down it, shimmering under the sun's rays. There are so many of them thatthey form a "crystal grid". Where is this amazing wonder located? On one of the banks of the Abkhazian river Bzyb. In the gorge laid by her, the Maiden's Tears waterfall falls from the wall. Abkhazia is generally rich in waterfalls, their names are unusual - "Milky", "Men's Tears" and so on. But the most popular and famous due to its beauty and unusualness is the Maiden's Tears waterfall.
Legends
The water in "Girl's Tears" is surprisingly clean, transparent and cold. This happens because melt water from high-mountainous alpine meadows and streams, making its way through limestone rocks, undergo a kind of filtration. The waterfall is very old. From time immemorial, there has been a legend associated with him, in which the heroine is a girl. Or rather, several legends that differ in some details, but the main character is the same in all.
The most common version, in honor of which the Maiden's Tears waterfall got its name, tells that a long time ago, when there was nothing in these places, there was a lonely shepherd's house, in whose family she was born, as usual, beautiful daughter. The girl was not only a beauty, but also a clever, novice and hard worker. Helping her father, she went with a herd of goats to the highland pastures, where she was seen and loved with all her heart by the mighty and all-powerful highland spirit. This unequal love angered the evil witch, the mistress of these places.
At some point, the spirit disappeared. The evil sorceress grabbed the defenseless girl and, lifting her high above the cliff, began to demand her renunciationfrom love. The faithful beauty refused to listen to the witch and promised her that her tears would flow forever after death, reminding the cruel woman that she had ruined the beautiful love of an earthly girl. For many hundreds of years these eternal tears have been pouring from a height of 13 meters in countless crystal streams and run into the Mzymta River, having previously formed a lake with clear cool water.
Interesting beliefs
The second version tells about the great love of mortals - girls and boys, whose names were Amara and Adgur. The evil mermaid, watching them, hated the lovers and killed the girl out of envy - she threw the unfortunate woman off the cliff. How did the mermaid get there? Both legends are also connected by the fact that loving men were absent at the very moment when they were in special need.
Another wonderful belief is associated with this place and attracts people here - any wish you make will come true if you tie a ribbon to a bush growing near the waterfall. Today, not only bushes and trees, but also rock ledges are decorated with dozens of ribbons - so strong is the belief in the indispensable fulfillment of a wish. Belief has turned the foot of the waterfall into a place of worship. The waterfall is also attractive for unmarried girls and women because if you just wash your face with water from it, then literally in the same year you can prepare for a meeting with your betrothed.
This is how beautiful and mysterious the Maiden's Tears waterfall is. Sochi, the southern capital of the RussianFederation, sometimes called the territory of the falls. One of them is "Girl's Tears".
Easy to get to
A visit to this attraction is included in all excursion routes from the famous southern city towards Krasnaya Polyana. The waterfall is the first sight on the way to Lake Ritsa. It is located on the left side of the highway leading to the famous lake. Immediately after the village of Chvizhepse, at the exit from the Adler - Krasnaya Polyana highway, there is a waterfall "Maiden's Tears". How to get to it? It is located on the territory of the Krasnaya Polyana forestry, at the turn uphill 2 kilometers from the village of Krasnaya Polyana. All fixed-route taxis and buses running along this route will take those who wish to the sights.
Altai waterfall
As noted at the beginning of the article, the waterfall of the same name is located in the Altai Territory. Locals know him as Shirlak.
The Tektu River is the right tributary of the Chuya, it is she who forms a waterfall, overthrowing from a mountain ledge. "Girl's Tears", as this 10-meter waterfall is popularly called, is located on the Aigulaksky ridge in the Ongudaysky district of the Altai Republic.
The waterfall has its legends about the girl, but none of them are connected with love. This is where heroism comes into play. All legends refer to the time of the fall of the Dzungar Khanate. Both in the first and in the second case, enemies attack Oirotia (a region in Altai). Left alone, the girl with her younger brother runs away from the enemies. In order not to be captured, theyrushing down the cliff.
In the second case, two sisters, left alone in a village completely destroyed by the enemy, mount one horse and rush into battle with the enemy. Having destroyed an unthinkable number of conquerors, they, again, in order not to be captured, throw themselves off a cliff. In memory of them, of their feat, tears are pouring and pouring, nature is crying.
On the Chuysky tract
Surrounded by wild nature, the Maiden's Tears waterfall (Altai) is unique and beautiful. How to get to it? It can be seen while driving along the Chuisky tract, the federal road between Novosibirsk and Novo altaysk. Also known as P256 and M52, it is the access road to Barnaul. At the 759th kilometer, 100 meters from the road, there is Shirlak. A well-trodden path leads to it. Downstairs there is a parking lot, a gazebo, bins and a shed under which local popular pies and other food are sold. In addition, information boards are located here.
In Altai there is another place with which the legends of Shirlak echo. These are "Devichi Reaches" on the Kumir River, the left tributary of the Charysh.
