Place to see: Barskoon Waterfall, Barskoon, Kyrgyzstan
Yuri Gagarin and the Barskoon Waterfall
Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin allegedly spotted this waterfall as he was being rocketed into space on the first ever manned space flight. This bust to Gagarin stands at the small park at the base of the mountain,allowing one to view both Gagarin and the waterfall at the same time.
About this place:
Located approximately 20km south of the village of Barskoon (pronounced bars-kone) on the southern shore of Kyrgyzstan's Lake Issyk Kul is the Barskoon Waterfall. By car, you can reach a place where two of the three cataracts are visible, which is a great place to picnic. At this spot you will find two monuments to Yuri Gagarin. Legend has it that as he was hurtling into space on the first ever manned space flight, he looked down and saw this waterfall. After his spaceflight, he made a point of coming to visit the waterfall, where he left an inscription on one of the rocks. (The inscription has since been defaced.) From this point, a steep trail leads up the mountain to the three falls.
Barskoon, Ysyk-Köl Oblasty, KG
Discovered by Jane Keeler
on 18 June 2008.
143 views.
