Ritlite are comb-like ridges near the village of Lyutibrod in Bulgaria. These impressive rock formations are one of the sharpest and best defined comb-like rocks in the world. They are around 120M years old, wide 3-7 m and long 200-400 m. It is not well known place and nearly often overlooked by the tourists, who often don't even know that there is such thing in the region. I rate these rocks as one of the top nature curiosities in the country and if by any chance you are around spare an hour to get there and see them in person.
The Belogradchik Rocks are a group of strange shaped sandstone and conglomerate rock formations located in the western part of the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.
Some video clips from the Magura Cave. Its pretty big one with 2.5km (1.6 mi) total length. It is in the form of a passage and when somebody enters from one end exits through the other. It is interesting because contains human remains from about 40 000 years ago and was home for some of the last Neanderthals. Also it has inside prehistoric wall paintings made of guano and carbon dated from 11 000 to 8 000 years ago. And particularly interesting for me are some of the depictions of Ostrich and Giraffe-like animals made about 11 000 years ago. I made some research and couldn't find anything like that living at the time in the area or even Europe in general. Strangely enough this issue was not researched and very few people even paid attention. I guess these that know that giant birds haven't lived among the early Europeans are different people from these that analyse ancient paintings or with other words Palaeontologists don't mix with Archaeologists. Also there are depictions of mushrooms, so the use of the magic ones is not out of question. The Sun-like paintings have corresponding number of rays and lines and suggest early attempts for creating calendars.
All that was amazing, but there were a vandalised paintings and rocks from the time when the cave was freely open for anybody. Nowadays one can enter alone after paying small fee, but generally the halls with the paintings are visited with guides.
TLDR Big cave with prehistoric wall paintings. If you visit Bulgaria one of the top 10 things to see.
Entrance of the Magura cave
Stairs in the Magura cave
First hall in the Magura cave. Tribe of 300 prehistoric people lived here. Remains of Cave Bear, Cave Hyena aand other prehistoric animals were found. Scientist say that Neanderthals lived in the cave, too.
Stalagmites in the Magura cave
Vandals defacing and destroying cultural heritage of the humanity in the Magura cave
The walks are well lit and marked in the Magura cave
Interesting formation in the Magura cave, looks like stalagmite
View from the walk in Magura
Stalagmite in Magura
Cool passages in the Magura cave
Nearly vertical drop in the middle of the cave after the paintings hall section
Entrance of the "Art Gallery" in the Magura cave
One of the most interesting prehistoric paintings in the Magura cave. Dated 10-11 000 years old, depicts hunting scene and Ostrich- or "big bird"- like animal, which shouldn't have existed at that time and place.
The animal depicted in this prehistoric scene even without the "bird" are interesting and strange enough
Prehistoric symbols and paintings in the Magura cave
Motive depicting two figures, probably man and woman, repeated often on the walls of the Magura cave
Possible depiction of prehistoric calendar in the Magura cave
Prehistoric symbols in the Magura cave
More prehistoric symbols and paintings in the Magura cave
Paintings and symbols in Magura cave
More paintings in Magura cave
View of the passage to the hall with the wall paintings in Magura
The exit of the Magura cave
View of the Lake Rabisha from the exit of the Magura cave
While walking around in Bulgaria, I spotted this typical for the country fish trap, called locally "blind basket" (сляп кош, слеп кош). They look like the eel traps and are made in similar manner but are not so elongated and are flattened. Many years ago I've been thought how to wove them as part of my family tradition and in some of the next videos I'll show how it is done. In general I am fascinated with the this type of traditional crafts and primitive technologies and I'd like to see everyone of us sharing the knowledge.
The reason to visit again Bulgaria is, because the NHS traumatology didn't have free slot until the end of October and because my injured foot was not deemed life-threatening I couldn't get emergency treatment. So after 3 months waiting, the situation started getting worse and I was barely able to walk and I went in Bulgaria, where I got something called "free check", which basically means paid service for people who doesn't live in the country and are not insured in any way. The whole thing lasted less then an hour, and cost me the grand total of £20, which includes x-ray, couple of control checks and scheduled up to 5 shock-wave or whatever are called procedures and after 3 days I could walk again and the pain in greatly diminished. So if anybody has issues with the health, don't wait and run to some other country, I can confirm that the quality of the health care in East Europe and the Mediterranean countries like Spain is much higher.
Bulgarian fish trap, called locally "blind basket" (сляп кош, слеп кош)
Bulgarian fish trap, called locally "blind basket" (сляп кош, слеп кош)
Bulgarian fish trap, called locally "blind basket" (сляп кош, слеп кош)
Bulgarian fish trap, called locally "blind basket" (сляп кош, слеп кош)
Bulgarian fish trap, called locally "blind basket" (сляп кош, слеп кош)
