Yeh Mempeh Waterfall, Bali, Indonesia EarthCache
Yeh Mempeh Waterfall, Bali, Indonesia
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The Yeh Mempeh / Les Waterfall is one of the tallest in Bali. From
the parking area, you will need to walk just over a kilometre (less
than 1 mile) to get to the waterfall. The path is good and is
generally even.
The Les Waterfall
There are considered to be ten types of waterfall. These are:
. Block: Where water descends from a wide stream or river.
. Cascade: Where water descends down a series of rock steps.
. Cataract: A large and very powerful waterfall.
. Fan: Water spreads out horizontally as it descends but stays in
contact with the bedrock.
. Horsetail: The descending water maintains some contact with the
bedrock.
. Plunge: Where water descends vertically and loses contact with
the bedrock.
. Punchbowl: Where water descends in a narrow form and then spreads
out in to a wider pool.
. Segmented: Where separate flows of water form as it descends.
. Tiered: Where water drops down in a series of distinct steps or
falls.
. Multi-step: This is a series of waterfalls one after another.
They are of roughly the same size and each has its own sunken
plunge pool.
The Les Waterfall is a Horsetail Waterfall as the descending water
does not spread out, there are no steps, and the water remains in
contact with the rock whilst maintaining approximately the same
width at the bottom of the waterfall as at the top.
Waterfall Classification
Waterfalls get classified into ten different classes based on the
average volume of water that flows over the fall. A Class 10
waterfall is the Niagara Falls (in other words the flow of water
here is one of the largest in the world). The Victoria Falls as
categorised as a Class 9 and Yosemite Falls a Class 6. The Les
Waterfall has a considerably smaller flow than any of these
waterfalls but is very impressive all the same.
The Waterfall and its Environs
The Les Waterfall is one of the largest waterfalls in Bali and for
my money easily betters the far more famous Git-Git waterfalls. The
other very nice thing about the Les Waterfall is how it is largely
unvisited by tourists and therefore is totally unspoilt. To reach
it you have to walk along a path taking you throw farm land, which
grows Papaya, Pineapples, Jackfruit and many other plants, all well
fed from the stream running off from the waterfall. If you are
lucky, you will be able to try a slice of Jackfruit from the fruit
farm you pass (although a small donation will be expected)
Access to the Les Waterfall
From the Eastern Bali Coast road, you will see a sign pointing you
inland at S08 08.162 E115 22.266. If you are driving a car, you can
park at S08 08.700 E115 21.896. From there it is around a 400m walk
to the “Ticket Office” and then a further 700m to get to the
waterfall. I quote “Ticket Office” as there is no entry fee as of
August 2009. You are asked to make a donation on the way out again
however. This is optional. I would suggest a minimum of $1 US per
person in local currency (approx 10,000 Indonesian Rupiah in Aug
2009). The coordinates for the ticket office are: S08 08.941 E115
21.872. The waterfall itself can be found at : S08 09.266 E115
21.610.
The Waterfall is next to the Les Village, hence the name. It is
also know as the Yeh Mempeh Waterfall, which means Flying Water
Waterfall.
How to log the Cache
To log the cache, please take a
photo of your GPS (and ideally yourself too) at the Waterfall and
answer the following questions:
(1) – Estimate the height of the
waterfall (or ask a local to help you)
(2) – Stand looking at the waterfall, then look to the right hand
side, at the rock wall. Estimate how far the waterfall has eroded
the wall (in other words, how many metres/feet do you believe the
waterfall has travelled backwards over time)
(3) – Tell me what you can see, also on the right hand side, but
just in front of the eroded wall (in other words a little further
away from the wall than the waterfall)
Don’t forget to log the find with a picture of your GPS at the
waterfall.
Counter added 09th Jan
2010
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)