Piatra Pinului și Piatra Șoimului, محمية طبيعية في رومانيا
Piatra Pinului and Piatra Șoimului are two rock formations within a nature reserve in Suceava County. They rise from a forest of pines, firs, and beeches, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and woodlands from multiple vantage points. The reserve contains deposits from the Oligocene period, approximately 30 million years ago, preserving fossils of ancient fish species within its stone layers.
The rock formations were shaped by natural erosion over time and are part of sediment layers from the Oligocene period, when an ancient sea called Paratethys covered the region. Fossilized fish remains within the stones were first discovered in the 1960s by a student and later confirmed by scientists, leading to the designation of the area as a protected reserve in 2000.
The rock formations hold significance in local tradition as symbols of strength and hope passed down through generations. Their names reflect their shapes: Piatra Pinului resembles a pine tree, while Piatra Șoimului suggests a falcon or eagle soaring above the forest.
Access is from Gura Humorului via the E58 road, followed by a partly paved and partly gravel path that runs along the Moldava River and reaches close to the rock formations. Visitors should wear appropriate hiking footwear and exercise caution on uneven terrain, especially when attempting to climb the rocks.
Some of the fossil fish discovered here were nearly two meters long and belonged to species that inhabited the ancient Paratethys Sea. Today, impressions and remains of these prehistoric fish can be viewed in a natural history museum in Suceava.
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