Bulgaria
may be a great sun, sea and sand destination, but it also has its
fair share of cultural and historical sites too. Holidaymakers
keen to explore some of the surrounding area close to the popular
Varna Resort may wish to visit Pobiti Kamani - an ancient stone
forest dating back millions of years.
The
site's name literally translates as 'hammered stones', as this
phenomenon looks as if it has been created by giants driving the rock
formations into the ground. In
reality, it is not known how the stones, which are across seven
kilometres of desert, came about, with many legends having
arisen to explain their existence through the ages.
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These
ancient rock formations are shrouded in myth and mystery.
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Ranging
from 30cm to three metres in diameter, the hollow
cylinders also vary in height, with some reaching up
to seven metres tall.
Although
being described as a forest, the arrangement does not appear natural
and various theories have included the rocks being used as foundation
stones for some kind of acropolis or temple. Since
the god Poseidon is said to have lived in the Black Sea, some legends
have suggested Pobiti Kamani could be the colonnades marking his seat
in Atalntis.
Wandering
around the site with friends or a loved one, it is fun to debate the
relative merit of these theories among yourselves and even come up
with some of your own. Over
the years, individual stones have been given names by the locals,
based on their pronounced characteristics. See
if you can spot The Soldier, for example and work out what
appropriate names the others may have been given.
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| Although described as a forest, the arrangement does not appear natural |
Since
1828, tests have been carried out on the stones to determine a more
scientific explanation to their origin. Over the years it has been
established that the Black Sea once covered the site and the stones
could in fact been created underwater.
It
is now widely believed that a theory proposed by brothers Peter and
Stefan Bonchev Gochev could be correct. They think limestone layers
may have been formed through compression of sediment on the
seabed. Gases released rose through the sludge, carving the limestone
into columns, which were then revealed when the waters of the Black
Sea subsided and the rock formations became a tourist site.
This
is not proven, but one possible explanation. Either way, Pobiti
Kamani is an interesting place to explore and hypothesise about.
