WALLZE, Kurdistan Region — 155 kilometers northeast of Erbil lies a secluded natural gem.
Kani Bast, in Wallze village in the town of Qasre, is the tallest waterfall in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
At 36 meters high and nearly 2,000 meters above sea level, the waterfall was formed from melting snow and natural springs.
Kani Bast is a sight of revered natural beauty - so much so that the Iraqi Central Bank has used a picture of it on its 50,000 dinar note.
But as with many of the Kurdistan Region's spectacular settings, the mountainous road to the waterfall is rugged and unpaved, making it difficult to reach.
The Mayor of Qasre, Shakhawan Warti, sees the waterfall is a site of untapped potential, not just as a tourist destination but as a source of electricity for local residents.
He has asked Erbil's governor to invest in the improvement of Kani Bast's infrastructure.
"We’ve made some cost estimations and raised them to Erbil governorate asking them to repair Kani Bast this year, including the road, electricity and introducing the resort to tourists. It would be a good source of income to the locals and the government as well."
Reporting by Bakhtiyar Qadir
