Djavolja Varoš / Devil’s Town
Djavolja Varoš, an erosive widening, is located in southern Serbia, in the hearth of the Radan Mt. More than 200 soil pyramids, towers, and turrets with andesite caps on their tops, make it unique. The pyramids, 2 to 15 m tall and 3 to 5 m wide, were formed in Djavolja Jaruga and Paklena Jaruga, and in the local watershed between them.
The primary, initial agent in formation of the soil pyramids is the rain and its runoff. Mechanical destruction occurs under the strokes of the raindrops, after which the clayey components are being dissolved and removed from the surface layer, and the initial, miniature erosive furrows are being formed. Concentrated flow and runoff of the rainwater occurs along these furrows, as well as removal of the more and more larger quantities of the loose material. However, the material under the rocky blocks was protected from this “bombardment” of raindrops and runoff, so that it remained on the slope in the form of short primary pillars with “tables”. Runoff of the material and cut¬ting of the trenches occurred not only by gravitation, down the trenches, but transversely as well, between the pillars.
Apart from this geomorphological erosive phenomenon, there are two hydrological rarities in Djavolja Varoš – the two very mineralised springs, Djavolja Voda and Crveno Vrelo.
This entire complex of outstanding magnetism represents a unique natural laboratory, with particular scientific, educational, and cultural significance.
