Velikaya Krakotka. The Krakotsky Stone and the spring.

At the entrance to the quiet village of Krokotin (sometimes spelled Krokotka), which stretches across the expanses of the Slonim district of the Grodno region, time seems to stop. Here, among the familiar Belarusian landscapes, there is a real natural artifact that preserves the memory of global geological disasters and prehistoric times. Locals respectfully and somewhat superstitiously call it "Kamlyga". For scientists, it is the Krokotsky Boulder, a natural monument of national significance, listed in all scientific registers.

An alien from Scandinavia.

To touch this relic, it is enough to get off the highway and head to coordinates 53.0161, 24.9806. You will see a massive giant made of pink granite with distinct inclusions of feldspar and quartz. Its appearance is a visual record of the planet.

Looking at the "Krokotskaya Kamlyga", it's hard to believe that this multi-ton monolith is a traveler who has traveled many hundreds of kilometers. His homeland is distant Scandinavia, most likely the mountains of Sweden or Finland. About 200-300 thousand years ago, during the great glaciations, a giant glacier, like a bulldozer, tore off a block of rock and carried it to the southeast. For thousands of years, the ice melted, came again, and now, about 12-15 thousand years ago, the boulder remained lying on the lands where the people who founded the village of Krokotka later settled.

A monument of nature and legends.

Today, kamlyga stands proudly above the ground, striking in its size. Although the exact parameters may vary (erosion does its job), this is one of the largest boulders in the region, favored not only by geologists, but also by tourists.

In 1974, the Krokotsky boulder was declared a natural monument of national significance. This status protects it not only as a unique geological object (because the composition of such granite can study the history of the Scandinavian Mountains), but also as an important cultural and historical element.

However, despite its scientific value, the stone has always been held in special veneration by the people. The very word "kamlyga" in the Belarusian language means not just a stone, but something heavy, ancient, integral to this land. There are many legends associated with it. It is said that the boulder has a special energy: if you lean your back against it in a moment of doubt, it will give you the peace and confidence of your ancestors. Other legends say that treasures are hidden under the stone or that pagan rituals were held here in ancient times.

How to get there and what to see.

Getting to the "Krokotskaya kamlyga" is not difficult. It is located in the Slonim district. The village of Krokotka (or Krokotin) stands on the Issa River. The boulder lies almost at the entrance to the settlement, so it is difficult to miss it - it stands out noticeably against the background of fields and woods.

Here you can not only touch the ancient history, but also enjoy the tranquility of the Belarusian countryside. The photos against the background of the pink giant turn out to be majestic and a little mystical.

When visiting Kamlyga, it is important to remember that this is not just a piece of rock. This is a witness of the epochs, who saw mammoths, survived the melting of glaciers and the formation of human civilization. This is a genuine natural artifact, which is worth protecting and which is worth being proud of.

There are several natural monuments in the village of Velikaya Krakotka and near the town. There is a spring with a healing vase in the center of the settlement. There is a republican geological geomorphological natural monument "Krakotskaya Ridge" on the outskirts of the village. According to scientists, it appeared 200 thousand years ago during the Ice Age. The Krakotsky boulder is also known throughout the surrounding area, which was also attracted here by a glacier.

The stone is located on the way to the village of Selevichi. The locals call the huge granite boulder the Krakotka Kamalyga. And nearby there is another stone - a boulder with a notch on the surface. Researchers suggest that pagan rituals were performed here in pagan times.

There is a spring with medicinal water in the center of the village. According to legend, this neighborhood once belonged to landowner Skurat. He had a daughter who had eye pain. One day an elder came to Krakotka and stopped at a local mountain from which water flowed, and he drank this water, washed himself with it, and immediately his eyes began to see better. The elder came to the village and told the townspeople about this miracle. And they told to Skurat. The landowner began to wash his daughter with healing water, and after a while she began to see clearly. Then Skurat made a well on the mountain, and since then the local spring has been called the Skurat spring. To date, the spring has been consecrated in honor of John the Baptist. The source is located next to the local river Jordanka.

According to local legend, the name of the stream comes from a tragic event, when a man named Jordanas was killed in this area.

There is a big celebration at the spring on July 7, on the day of the Nativity of John the Baptist, and a lot of people gather on Ivan Kupala fest.