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Ninety seconds on Palovit Waterfall
For a waterfall at full strength in the Kaçkar forest, watch this one from the high point above, then go down for a closer look at the drop.
The fall lies inside Kaçkar Mountains National Park and is fed by the Palovit stream. The stream comes out of dense forest, rounds a bend and drops about 15 m into a pool, in a sheet of water about 8 m wide.
Old trees stand around the fall, with aromatic plants growing thick at their feet.
In winter and spring, rain and melting snow swell the fall into a torrent. A visit in May, with the snow melting, found it running very hard.
On sunny days the spray forms a rainbow. It carries well beyond the pool, and if you stand even a few metres back you will still get wet.
Start at the high point above the fall, where it is watched from the top and the whole drop is in view.
To go closer, take the wooden stair. Built like a bridge and made to look like a log, it crosses the river towards the point where the water lands, then descends into the lower gorge.
The stair ends on natural ground, so cover the last stretch slowly, looking for firm footing. Near the foot the air is full of mist.
Wear non-slip, water-resistant shoes, because the ground around the fall can be very slippery, and pack a waterproof jacket for the spray.
On the drive up, the road narrows and two vehicles can struggle to pass each other. Drive slowly and watch for cars coming the other way.
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