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Guidebook
Lonely Planet Türkiye
Lonely Planet · 2024
The 17th edition covers Antalya and the surrounding coast, including getting to the Upper and Lower Düden falls.
Turkey · Erzurum
Tortum Waterfall
The Tortum Waterfall is the tallest waterfall in Turkey. Since the completion of the Tortum Dam and Hydroelectric Plant in 1960, water is drawn from Tortum Lake through channels and tunnels, and allowed to rush down into the turbines.
Essentials guide
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Tortum Waterfall drops 48 metres (157 ft) across a face roughly 22 metres wide. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Uzundere, Turkey. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Tortum Waterfall is the second-tallest of the 16 we cover in Turkey. As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Tortum Waterfall itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Uzundere are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Winter rain and spring snowmelt: March to June is the season, and late summer can leave the smaller falls dry.
Getting there
- Base town Uzundere, Turkey
- Country Turkey
- Region Erzurum, Western Asia & Caucasus, Asia
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Tortum Waterfall
Turkey
Height48 mWidth22 m
Most similar
Telun Berasap Falls
Indonesia
Height50 mWidth—
Also a cascade waterfall, of similar height and in Indonesia
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
48 m
50 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Tortum WaterfallTelun Berasap FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Tortum Waterfall
22 m
Angel Falls is 20× taller than Tortum Waterfall. Victoria Falls is 2.2× taller and 78× wider. Khone Phapheng Falls is 490× wider. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Books worth packing
On the map
40.6607, 41.6687
Quick answers
Where is Tortum Waterfall?
Tortum Waterfall is in Turkey (Erzurum). The nearest base is Uzundere, Turkey. Its coordinates are 40.6607, 41.6687.
How tall is Tortum Waterfall?
Tortum Waterfall drops 48 metres (157 feet), across a face about 22 metres wide. It is a cascade-type waterfall.
When is the best time to visit Tortum Waterfall?
Peak flow is March to June. Winter rain and spring snowmelt: March to June is the season, and late summer can leave the smaller falls dry.
What can you do at Tortum Waterfall?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Tortum Waterfall?
The usual base is Uzundere, Turkey. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
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