Stone ridges formed in the bed of Baltic Ice Lake at the final stages of the last Ice Age. There are several stone ridges with their own names - Velna kalva, Karduskalva, Punu kalva, Krapsinkalva etc. The largest stone ridges have been levelled in middle of 19th century in order to build the artificial island for Kolka lighthouse (northern tip of Kurzeme). Sometimes two stone ridges cross each other - those crossing are higher and more explicit. It is possible that the devastation of stone ridges continues up to this day - fortunately the flinders of this stone is of low quality due to high admixture of soil. Velna kalva is the largest stone ridge - it is 900 m long, 3 - 6 m high, 45 - 60 m wide in general. Souther end of this ridge has been levelled. The diameter of stones - 0,7 - 1 m, sometimes up to 1,5 m. Until 1999 there was archeological monument - hollowed stone standing near it. On stone ridges there are met several very rare plants, f.e. ivy which loves maritime climate or northern species - Cornus suecica - Lapland cornel. Stone ridges have been formed by Baltic Glacial Lake when it washed out the ice of the last glacier. It is is possible that the stones have been pushed together by ice at the bank of Glacial lake. Legend tells about Devil who wanted to build a bridge to Saaremaa. Even at the beginning of 20th century older people asked small children to avoid those stone ridges, to behave silent here. |
