Moni Zhaga Waterfall

Moni Zhaga Waterfall

Zhaga Waterfall is located 40 kilometers from Songpan County in the Housi Valley of Sanlian Village in the Moni Scenic Area.

"Zhaga" means "torrent on white rocks" in Tibetan. Zhaga Waterfall is one of the two major attractions in the Moni Valley Scenic Area. The waterfall is situated at the foot of Zhaga Mountain at the end of Zhaga Valley. Its source is at an altitude of 3,270 meters, dropping to 3,176 meters, with a height of 93.7 meters and a width of 35–40 meters. In summer, its flow rate reaches 2–5 cubic meters per second. It is a stepped waterfall, with a peak summer flow of 23 cubic meters per second. The upstream section is a lake, while the downstream consists of a terraced riverbed. The lake water rapidly cascades down massive calcified steps, tumbling over three levels of travertine terraces before slamming against a huge calcified cliff wall. This forms a grand waterfall face, audible for miles, like the beat of war drums or the galloping of ten thousand horses.

Zhaga Waterfall is a multi-tiered cascade, ever-changing in form. With a height of 104 meters and a width of 35 meters, it is the tallest calcified waterfall in China. It boasts a majestic presence and thunderous roar that can be heard for miles.

According to geologists, Zhaga Waterfall is both a liquid and a solid waterfall. The so-called solid waterfall refers to the fact that the entire waterfall surface and riverbed consist of a travertine mass, with the travertine flow resembling a colorful liquid rushing downward. Yet the water on the travertine remains clear and bright. This waterfall is currently the highest travertine waterfall discovered in China, earning the reputation as the "No. 1 Waterfall in China."