Gali Ali Beg: Kurdistan’s Famous Waterfall
- Mehmet Özdemir
- 17 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
The Gali Ali Beg waterfall is the most famous cascade in Iraqi Kurdistan — a powerful fall of water tumbling through a rocky gorge in the high mountains of the Soran country, north-east of Erbil. So beloved is it that its image was printed on the old Iraqi banknote, making it a familiar sight to people across the whole country. Set amid the dramatic canyons near Rawandiz, fed by mountain rivers, and ringed by cafes and picnic spots, Gali Ali Beg is the jewel of Kurdistan’s waterfalls and one of the most cherished natural sights in the region.
A waterfall famous enough to grace the nation’s money, Gali Ali Beg is the pride of the Kurdish mountains. This profile looks at the falls, their setting, and their fame.
Key Takeaways
• Gali Ali Beg is the most famous waterfall in Iraqi Kurdistan.
• It lies in the gorge country of the Soran district, north-east of Erbil.
• Its image once appeared on the Iraqi banknote.
• It is fed by the meeting of mountain rivers near Rawandiz.
• It is one of the most visited natural attractions in the region.
Quick Facts
Name: Gali Ali Beg (Geliê Elî Beg)
Type: Waterfall
Country / Region: Iraq (Bashur / Kurdistan Region)
District: Soran, near Rawandiz
Distance: About 130 km north-east of Erbil
Famous For: Appearing on the old Iraqi banknote
Named After: The Yazidi prince Mîr Elî Beg
Setting: A deep rocky gorge
Contents
Where Is Gali Ali Beg?
The waterfall lies in the Soran district, some 130 kilometres north-east of Erbil, in the heart of the spectacular Rawanduz Gorge country near the town of Rawandiz. It sits below the great peak of Korek Mountain, in a deep rocky valley along the famous Hamilton Road, where fast mountain rivers meet. This is some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in all of Iraqi Kurdistan, a country of canyons, cliffs, and cascades.
The Famous Falls
Gali Ali Beg pours down through a narrow rocky gorge, its waters falling more than ten metres into a basin below before rushing on along the valley floor. The falls are fed by the meeting of several mountain rivers that drain the high country around, so that they flow strongly and reliably, especially in spring when the snows melt. The sight and sound of the cascade, framed by the steep walls of the gorge and the green of the surrounding slopes, has made it a magnet for visitors and one of the defining images of Kurdistan’s natural beauty.
A Waterfall on the Banknote
What lifted Gali Ali Beg from a regional wonder to a national icon was its appearance on the Iraqi banknote in the years before 1990. Printed on the currency that passed through every hand in the country, the image of the waterfall became familiar to people from Baghdad to Basra, long before many could ever visit the Kurdistan Region itself. For Kurds and other Iraqis alike, the falls came to stand as a symbol of the natural beauty of the north, and seeing them in person remains a cherished experience for visitors who grew up knowing the image from the money in their pockets.
The Name and Its Story
The waterfall takes its name — Geliê Elî Beg, the valley of Ali Beg — from a Yazidi prince of the Sheikhan region, Mîr Elî Beg, who according to tradition met his death in this valley in the troubled events of the early nineteenth century. The story ties the beauty of the place to the often painful history of the Kurdish and Yazidi peoples of the region, a reminder that even the loveliest landscapes carry the memory of the past. The name has endured for generations, binding the falls to the deeper story of the land.
Gali Ali Beg Today
Today Gali Ali Beg is one of the most visited tourist sites in Iraqi Kurdistan, its gorge lined with cafes, terraces, and stalls where families and travellers gather through the warm months to enjoy the cool air and the rush of the falls. Together with nearby Bekhal and the wonders of the Rawanduz country, it anchors the region’s growing tourism. Famous across a nation and beloved by the people of the mountains, Gali Ali Beg endures as the crowning waterfall of the Kurdish highlands.
Timeline
over the ages — Mountain rivers carve the gorge and feed the waterfall.
early 19th century — The Yazidi prince Mîr Elî Beg gives the valley its name.
1978–1990 — The waterfall appears on the Iraqi banknote, becoming a national icon.
recent decades — Cafes and facilities make it a major tourist destination.
today — Gali Ali Beg is the most famous waterfall in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gali Ali Beg?
Gali Ali Beg is the most famous waterfall in Iraqi Kurdistan, in the gorge country of the Soran district north-east of Erbil, once pictured on the Iraqi banknote.
Where is Gali Ali Beg?
It lies about 130 km north-east of Erbil, in the Rawanduz Gorge country near Rawandiz and Korek Mountain, along the Hamilton Road.
Why is Gali Ali Beg famous?
Besides its natural beauty, its image appeared on the old Iraqi banknote, making it familiar across the whole country and a national symbol of the north’s scenery.
Who was Ali Beg?
The valley is named after Mîr Elî Beg, a Yazidi prince of the Sheikhan region who, by tradition, died in this valley in the early 19th century.
Related People, Places, and Topics
The Hamilton Road · Kurdish waterfalls · the Soran country · the Rawanduz Gorge · Korek Mountain · Rawandiz.
References and Further Reading
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