Rosomača Canyon

Rosomača Canyon, also known as Rosomača Pots, is a small river canyon hidden near the village of Slavinja in the Balkan Mountains (known in Bulgarian and Serbian as Stara Planina). The canyon was created by the intrusion of the river flow into the rock mass of the mountain. The layered edges of the rock create an impression of cauldrons and pots, hence the canyon’s nickname.

The unusual canyon is about 500 meters (1640 feet) long, and its walls are about 70 meters (230 feet) tall. The walls of the hollowed gorge are made of delicate limestone layers. Limestone shale sediments contain many types of ammonites, extinct marine cephalopods that often had spiral shells.

At the bottom of the canyon, the water is rarely warmer than five or six degrees, but due to the steepness of the rocks the icy water is almost impossible to reach. The river creates an imposing series of waterfalls, and the unique scene of the mountain relief represents a true undiscovered treasure for nature lovers.

Due to its remote location, the canyon is not visited by many tourists except hikers, mountaineers, and adventure enthusiasts. Around the canyon can be found old Serbian villages, such as Slavinja and Rsovci, which is known for its medieval cave church with a “bald Jesus” fresco.