Damestenen, Glacial erratic boulder in Hesselager, Denmark.
Damestenen is a massive granite boulder rising about 10 meters above ground with a circumference of roughly 45 meters. The glacial erratic stands alone near Svendborg in southern Denmark, appearing like an isolated stone island in the surrounding landscape.
About 18,000 years ago, during the last ice age, glacial forces moved this massive stone from Swedish bedrock to its current location in Denmark. In the 1800s, Danish geologist Johan Georg Forchhammer studied it, prompting King Christian VIII to authorize an excavation of the site.
The name refers to women in local legend who allegedly attempted to move or destroy the stone in ancient times. This naming reveals how the community has connected folklore to the physical landmark over generations.
The site is accessible via Damestenensvej with designated parking areas and viewing benches provided for visitors. Wear comfortable shoes and allow time to walk around the formation to appreciate its size from different angles.
The boulder displays light reddish-grey granite with dark veins of diabase, a volcanic rock type, running through its interior. This striking internal structure reveals the complex geological makeup of the erratic and makes it geologically distinctive.
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