Cineritele de la Somușca, Bacău, Nature reserve in Cleja, Romania.
Cineritele de la Somușca is a nature reserve in Cleja featuring exposed volcanic tuff formations at the summit of Patul Hill. The rock layers display distinct bands created by separate volcanic eruptions that occurred at different times in Earth's history.
The Romanian government protected this area as a natural monument in 2000, acknowledging its geological value for scientific study. This official designation helped safeguard the volcanic tuff layers from further erosion and quarrying activities.
The reserve functions as the endpoint of Căii Sfintei Cruci hiking trail, where visitors observe and study the geological formations of eastern Romania.
Access is via marked trails from Cleja village, with the best views of the rock formations available during daylight hours in warmer months. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear since the paths cross uneven and sometimes steep terrain.
The tuff layers here date back millions of years to a time when eastern Romania experienced active volcanic activity. Today visitors can read the rock record to understand a period of dramatic geological change in this region.
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