Vrachanska Skaklya (Bulgarian: Врачанска Скакля) or Skaklya[1] is a plunge waterfall in the Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park of Vratsa Province in northwestern Bulgaria. With a height of 141 or 148 m,[2] it is claimed to be the highest intermittently flowing waterfall in Bulgaria and the Balkans.[3][4] The waterfall lies 1.5 km south of Vratsa, behind the Kaleto hill, and can be observed from the town centre.[5]
| Vrachanska Skaklya | |
|---|---|
 Vratsa with Vrachanska Skaklya in the background | |
 | |
| Location | Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park, Bulgaria |
| Coordinates | 43°11′10.96″N 23°33′07.69″E / 43.1863778°N 23.5521361°E |
| Type | Plunge |
| Elevation | 900 m |
| Total height | 141 or 148 m |
| Number of drops | 1 |
| Total width | up to 20 m |
The Vrachanska Skaklya waterfall is protected as part of the Vrachanski Karst Reserve within the nature park. Several marked tourist trails lead to the waterfall,[5] with lengths ranging from 1.5 to 5 km.[2]
The waterfall is at its most powerful in May and June, when its flow rate averages 200 litres per second (with a recorded maximum of around 300 L/s). In spring, Vrachanska Skaklya is up to 20 metres wide. During the rest of the year, its flow rate is much reduced and in August and September, it typically dries up entirely.[4] When the waterfall freezes in winter, it is popular as an ice climbing destination.[2]
References
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- ^ The waterfall shares the name with Zaselska Skaklya. The name comes from a dialectal word meaning "plunging water" or "waterfall".
- ^ a b c "Водопад Врачанска скакля". Retrieved 2023-03-08.
- ^ "Преход с планински водач до най-високия водопад на Балканите". bnr.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2023-03-08.
- ^ a b "Водопад Скакля :: Дирекция на природен парк Врачански Балкан". vr-balkan.net. Retrieved 2023-03-08.