There are interesting geographical shapes and formations all over the world. The stone forest, located in the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, in the west of the island of Madagascar, is one of these formations. Due to the interesting structure of this stone forest, it is not possible to see it on foot. The stone forests in the region give a surreal or otherworldly feeling.
In the National Park, which is a karst plateau; There are geological structures formed as a result of rain and erosion over millions of years. There are thousands of horizontal and vertical rocks with sharp and needle-like pointed surfaces on the plateau. These rocks are dense and majestic, almost resembling a forest. The stone forest, which creates a very interesting image, is difficult to find outside of Madagascar. National Park; It is one of the most curious points in the world with its different structure. The area was designated as a protected area in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990.
The word “Tsingy” means “the place where one cannot walk barefoot” in the Malagasy language. There are many living species in the region, where walking is almost impossible for humans. More than 100 species of birds, 45 species of reptiles and 11 species of lemurs live in the area. Many of these species living in the region are not found anywhere else in the world. At the same time, there are many caves, canyons and different formations in the region.
Located on Madagascar’s far west coast, the National Park can only be accessed via muddy roads. These roads turn into a swamp almost every 6 months of the year when it rains. The pointed rocks in the region exceeding 70 meters in length; makes it impossible to move around comfortably in the region, or even to walk. In addition to the rocks, there are cavities formed in the region and canyons reaching a depth of 120 meters due to the collapse of the hills over time. Together with the rocks, these structures in the region make the National Park an even more interesting place.
Madagascar is a large island country in the African Continent. The wet caves in the region provide shelter for animals and plants, while keeping people away from themselves. Steven Goodman, a biologist and living in Madagascar; He describes it as “a refuge in heaven”. In the National Park, which consists of extremely sharp rocks, if it comes into contact with any rock, it can cause deep wounds. The animals living in the National Park, which is a very arid region, are able to withstand this drought and heat.
It is possible to see the white lemurs living in the unique lantern of the National Park and jumping among the rocks. Among the many species living in the National Park, the most remarkable one is; It is a mammal named fossa, which is known only to live in the Madagascar region. Biologists working in a region with a high biodiversity encounter a different species each time.
Permission to visit parts of the stone forest, which spans more than a thousand kilometers, was first granted in 1998. Some areas are closed to visitors. A guide who can climb is needed in order to travel in the region where it is not allowed to wander alone. The scenery in the region, which is reached by a difficult climb, has a unique beauty.
