Devils Marbles
The unique Devil's Balls Reserve is located in Australia. In the language of the aborigines, the place is called Karlu-Karlu. In 2008, the reserve was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Australian Parks Service. The aborigines gave away the land for 99 years, but they did not stop governing, since the Devil's Balls, which are an accumulation of granite stones of unique shapes, are a shrine for local tribes. This is one of the favorite places for tourists.
The first to discover a cluster of boulders was Scottish researcher John Ross. The traveler identified this place as the machinations of the devil, and since then the real name has stuck. Later, one of the stones was taken to the city of Alice Springs and became an element of the memorial. This caused the indignation of the aborigines, after which the reserve became inviolable.
Versions of origin
According to scientists, the boulders were formed from lava that came out of the ground through sandstones. As a result of the process, the stones known as the Devil's Balls turned into granite. The shape was formed due to the blowing wind. The stones, split in half, were the result of a desert temperature change, under the influence of which they compressed and unclenched, which led to cracks. The locals have their own opinion on this matter. Some tribes believe that the balls are the eggs of the ancestress of life, the rainbow snake. Other aborigines believe that the devil wove a head ornament in this place. A few fallen hairs turned into stones.
Features of the Devil's Balls Attraction
The unique boulders took millions of years to form, after which natural factors shaped them for thousands of years. The size of the stones ranges from 50 cm to 6 m. In an interesting way, the boulders spread over an area of several kilometers. Some are stacked in piles, some are balancing, contrary to the laws of nature. The color of the neatly grouped stones changes in the morning and evening hours, depending on the lighting. It can be from pink to purple shades. Remarkably, there is flora and fauna in this corner of the desert area. Some amphibian species thrive here. Plants capable of storing water serve as a source of moisture for them. In addition, wild bananas and figs grow in this area.
Today, the reserve's infrastructure is well developed, which attracts more and more tourists. The Devil's Balls Nature Reserve is located 115 km from the town of Tennat Creek. It is protected as a shrine by local residents and as a landmark by the authorities. There are no official tourist tours to this place, so those who want to admire the wonder of nature get to the location of the mysterious granite balls on their own.
