Would you sit under it?

The incredible hanging stone of Ergaki National Park, Russia. Source

If you are looking for a unique and breathtaking natural attraction, you might want to visit the incredible hanging stone in Ergaki National Park, Russia. This amazing rock formation defies gravity and seems to be suspended in mid-air above a 1,000-meter abyss.

The hanging stone, also known as Visyachiy Kamen, is a large rock that is precariously balanced on a cliff face in the Sayan mountain range in Siberia, despite weighing an estimated 300 tons. It is a popular tourist destination and is easily accessible by a short hike from a nearby parking lot.

The hanging stone has a contact area of only one square meter with the rock-face on which it has rested since being deposited here by an Ice Age glacier which later receded. It is a wonder of nature that has intrigued people for thousands of years. In fact, there are many legends and myths associated with this mysterious stone.

The hanging stone has been standing its ground, well rock, since the Ice Age. Source

One legend says that the hanging stone is the beating heart of sleeping Sayan, the master of the taiga and the guardian of this majestic region. The gods had removed her heart from her chest and placed it on the edge of the cliff. The stone vibrates from the wind whistling through the pristine mountain air, creating a sound that resembles a heartbeat.

Another legend says that if the hanging stone falls into the lake below, it will signal that sleeping Sayan has awoken from her eternal sleep to defend her motherland. The splash from the rock crashing into the lake will wash her face and launch a new epoch, with the beginning of new life.

Lake Raduzhnoye with the hanging stone up on the mountain in the background. Photo: Ted.ns

However, there are fears that this scenario might happen soon, as local experts say that a new crack has appeared in the precarious granite giant, which could lead to it falling into the dark waters of Lake Raduzhnoye at any time. The crack started to show in 2012, and it could be the result of natural erosion or human interference.

Indeed, many have tried to push the hanging stone into a watery grave, including one group of 30 tourists who believed they could sway nature. Luckily, however, they failed to dislodge this incongruous stone, which seems to have a will of its own.

Luckily, nobody has been able to move the stone. Photo: Фахразиев Альфир Магафурьянович

The hanging stone is not only a natural wonder, but also a cultural and historical heritage of this region. It is a symbol of the beauty and mystery of Siberia, and a reminder of the ancient legends that still live on in this land. If you want to see it for yourself, you should hurry up before it is too late.