Suchurum, or Karlovsko Praskalo
Both names are tongue twisters, but you can just ask around Karlovo for the waterfall, and you will be understood. A short walk from the town centre, Suchurum or Karlovsko Praskalo falls from eight metres through massive boulders. It has been a favourite spot for picnics and walks for generations of locals. In 1926 a small power plant was built at the foot of the waterfall and inaugurated in the presence of King Boris III himself. It operates today, its original Made-in-Germany turbines still doing their job.
Emen
Falling 10 m into a deep pool carved into the karst rocks, the Emen Waterfall is more impressive because of its surroundings than its size. It is at the end of the Emenska Eco Path, Bulgaria’s first such tourist amenity. The trail starts from Emen village, near Veliko Tarnovo, and runs along the canyon of the Negovanka River, whose phantasmagorical rocks reach up to 90 m high.
Sadly, due to lack of maintenance, the wooden bridges and steps of the trail are now rotten. If you are wearing good shoes and are not afraid of climbing down and up, it is perfectly manageable to reach the waterfall.
Its alternative name Momin Skok, or Maiden’s Jump is explained by a legend. In Ottoman times three beautiful Bulgarian girls jumped from it to avoid becoming the concubines of a local Ottoman lord.
Teteven
It is an utter delight to spot the humble “Waterfall” road sign in drab Teteven, in the Stara Planina, and to follow its lead. At the end of a pleasant eco-trail that squeezes between overhanding rocks, two waterfalls dash and splash. The left-hand one, known as Skoka, or The Jump, is 15 m high. The right-hand one is over 50 m high but cascades only during the spring melt and after heavy rains. A quirk of local topography creates sudden gusts of wind that whisk the falling water into droplets. The thin mist they create fills the air and moistens you from head to toe, adding a hint of adventure to the experience.
Kostenets
Easily reachable by car and located in a mountain resort, the Kostenets Waterfall is rarely quiet – and by this, we do not mean the sound of its waters. At about 10 m high, surrounded by rocks and greenery it would be magical was it not for the talking, picture-taking crowd of holidaymakers and weekend tourists. Still, worth a visit.
Source: Vagabond
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