Under the riverbed, there is no water, only massive boulders, yet surprisingly, the sound of flowing water can still be heard.
The Stone River
Big Stone River is known as a river due to its geological characteristics, but there is no water underneath; instead, it is filled with gigantic boulders that create an incredibly unusual sight.
Big Stone River is called a river but has no water. (Photo: Pixabay).
Big Stone River has an average width of 200 meters and stretches 6 kilometers along the slopes of the Taganay Mountains in southern Ural, within Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. The widest part of the river measures 700 meters. The riverbed is approximately 6 meters deep, covered with large quartz stones and aventurine (a type of quartz that contains mica, giving it a sparkling effect). Each boulder weighs between 9 to 10 tons, and the layers of stone here can be up to 6 meters thick. This makes it impossible for vegetation, including lichens, to thrive in this environment.
According to archaeologists, Big Stone River formed around 10,000 years ago. Researchers believe that at that time, glaciers covered the peaks of the Taganay range at elevations of up to 4,800 meters. Under the weight of these glaciers, the mountain tops were crushed into millions of large stones. When the ice melted, the stones gradually slid down, creating the large stone river.
The Secrets of the Stone River
Under the weight of glaciers, the mountain peaks were crushed into millions of large stones. (Photo: Pixabay)
However, the most surprising thing is that when approaching this river, visitors can always hear the sound of flowing water, yet see no water. Big Stone River has remained unchanged for thousands of years. Scientists explain that, in fact, Big Stone River is still part of the glacier ecosystem. As temperatures gradually rise, the glaciers melt and create underground streams beneath the boulders. This is why we can hear the sound of flowing water in Big Stone River.
This intriguing fact about Big Stone River has attracted many visitors. Each year, tens of thousands of tourists visit Big Stone River to explore its unique beauty.
The intriguing fact of the stone river has attracted many people to explore it. (Photo: Pixabay).
It is known that Big Stone River is not the only stone river in the world. Similar rivers can be found in various regions of the Ural Mountains. Beyond Russian territory, you can also explore a stone river in Vitosha Mountain, Bulgaria. However, the stone river in Taganay is the largest and most famous.
The best times of the year to explore Big Stone River are in summer or winter. In winter, due to low temperatures, there are no mosquitoes in the area. Many visitors consider this an ideal condition for camping overnight.
