MELNIK ROCK PYRAMIDS

Melnik Rock Pyramids are the most visited earth pyramids in Bulgaria.

Situated at the southwestern foothills of Pirin, they are beautiful sand formations with specific steep walls, towering majestically over the smallest town in Bulgaria – Melnik. They can reach a height of around 100 m.

The pyramids were formed 4-5 millions of years ago in today’s Sandanski-Petrich valley, where there was a vast shallow lake. Clay and sand materials were deposited on its bed. Later on, with the rise of the Pirin Mountains, Belasitsa and Ograzhden, the lake waters drained to the south. Rock materials, brought downwards from rivers and springs, were deposited in the dried valley. On the lake sand sediments was formed around 500-600-meter thick deposit cover of welded redish conglomerates. 

In these rock masses the temporally flowing waters dug deep ditches and ravines and formed various figures – today’s Melnik Pyramids. Melnik Rock Pyramids were declared natural landmark in 1960.

Ecotrails:

• Melnik – Saint Nicholas church – Despot Slav’s fortress – Saint Mother of God Spileotissa church
• Rozhen – Rozhen monastery – Zlatolist
• Melnik – Zlatolist