Prohodna, The Bulgarian Cave And The Eyes Of God
If we travel through the north of Bulgaria, and its Lovech province, we’ll find there is a beautiful gorge called Iskar, very close to the village of Karlukovo, and in it, piercing a mountain of limestone, we find the so-called Eyes of God. It’s a fascinating cave that’s perfect for photography lovers, but also those who want to witness first hand, the so-called Eyes of God.
The region where the cave is located has been subject for millennia to karstic action, that is, the chemical weathering produced by water on certain types of soluble rocks, that have shaped the landscape and dug underground galleries and natural grottos producing a characteristic landscape, unlike any other anywhere in the world. While we find many other caves, in this article we take a look at the Prohodna cave, which is up to two hundred and sixty-two meters long and happens to be the largest in Bulgaria.
The cave has two entrances which lie opposite one another, known respectively as the Small Entrance and the Big Entrance.
The caves of the Geological Park of Iskar-Panega, are one of the most extensive karst regions of the country. It is believed to have arisen in the Quaternary Era, and it is a true paradise for caving enthusiasts since it is home to hundreds of caves. Prohodna is one of the most accessible caves in Bulgaria. But the cave is special. It’s different. Also known as Oknata, the mysterious cave is unique as it contains a fascinating feature in the ceiling of its middle chamber.
The cavern contains enormous cavities, one next to the other with two massive almond-shaped openings at the top, given the viewer from below an appearance almost as if the cave was looking down, through a pair of mysterious eyes. According to experts, the ‘Eyes of God’ formed through erosion, let in light into the cave. While the cave is a popular tourist destination today, experts have found traces of prehistoric habitation in the cave, which testify that humans lived in the cave during the Neolithic and Chalcolithic.
The most fascinating time to visit the cave is at night when the sky is clear and the moon is full.
Then, with a bit patience and luck, you can see the moon through the two cavities on the ceiling of the cave. When rainwater enters both holes and falls down the walls of the cave; locals often say then that God’s Eyes Are Crying. As noted by sendeirsmoeurope.com, the “eyes” of the Prohodna cave have a hypnotic effect and watch them for a while from inside the cave is very relaxing. Featured image credit: Redd.
Read the full article at the original website
References:
