Jagged peaks
Pale sand walls.
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The Melnik Earth Pyramids are hoodoo rock formations at the foot of the Pirin mountains in southwestern Bulgaria, spread over 17 square kilometres near the town of Melnik. They lie about 180 km south of Sofia and about 61 km in a straight line from Blagoevgrad. These sandstone pyramids reach up to 100 metres and take shapes like giant mushrooms, ancient towers and obelisks. They were formed mainly by rain erosion and the wearing of bedrock, and were declared a natural landmark in 1960. They sit between 350 and 850 metres in the valley of the Melnishka River, in a largely Mediterranean climate. Pale cream sand walls run in a long chain of jagged peaks above a valley thick with green trees, with Melnik's white houses and red roofs scattered at their foot. Near the village of Karlanovo, lone pointed columns stand like towers. Walking trails lead from Melnik to the pyramids and on to Rozhen Monastery. Summers in the valley are very hot, so walk early in the morning.
Pale sand walls.
Red roofs below.
Near Karlanovo.
Near Melnik, Sandanski Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria
Early morning; summers are hot.
Melnik town and Rozhen Monastery.