In Australia, there is a unique reserve with the unusual name "Devil's Balls". On a wide plain huge granite stones are scattered about randomly, which impress with their gigantic size and unusual shapes. The diameter of some of them reaches 6 meters. Simple and laconic landscape is constantly changing. Especially amazing, it looks at dawn and at sunset. As the lighting changes, the boulders begin to “glow”, and their color changes from pale pink to crimson red.
According to the scientific hypothesis, the age of these stones is several million years. Granite gradually formed from the cooling magma emerging on the surface of the earth, and soft sandstone was located on top of it, which over time was affected by erosion and settled, and granite, on the contrary, came to the surface. The main reason for the split of the stones became sharp temperature drops, which forced the rock to shrink and expand repeatedly.
Australian Aborigines call these lands "Karl-Karl", which literally translates as "round boulders". They consider this place sacred and believe that once the devil himself was here. According to legend, it was during a walk through this valley that the devil wove his headband, which is necessary for all men who have undergone initiation. True, during this action, he dropped some of his hair, which fell to the ground and turned into red stones. However, as the indigenous people themselves say, this “fairy tale” about the origin of granite balls was invented specifically for strangers. The truth is kept secret and only the true owners of these lands can know it.
The natives of the kiteti tribe have their own version explaining the origin of the boulders. They believe that the stones are the eggs of a rainbow snake, the progenitress of humanity and all living things.
Despite the differing hypotheses of the emergence of giant boulders, all the aboriginal tribes worship this place and consider it sacred. Any encroachment on him is considered blasphemous. In the middle of the 20th century, the authorities of the nearby city of Alice Spring took away one of the boulders and installed it as a constituent element of the John Flint memorial. Since the officials did not notify the tribal elders of their actions, a scandal broke out, and in the 90s of the XX century they had to return the stone to their place. After this incident, the reserve remains untouchable.
Currently, the aborigines - the legal owners of the reserve. They received this right in 2008 and at the same time transferred land for lease to the Australian Parks Service for a period of 99 years. Now the park is under the control of two parties: the government and the indigenous people.
The reserve “Devil's Balls” is under special state protection. Tourists are not brought here, so the journey will have to make their own. However, every year from May to October, interesting “live” programs are organized here, which include acquaintance with the park, as well as with the history, culture, traditions and way of life of the indigenous Australian Aborigines. Many come here overnight and stay in a comfortable enough camping to take a break from the bustle of the city. Photographers who are willing to wait for hours to take unique pictures also love these places. The reserve is located 115 kilometers from the city of Tennatn Creek. There is a small regional airport. There are no direct flights from Russia to this city, so the easiest way to get to the reserve is with a transfer in the city of Darwin.
