As we’ve observed countless times on our quest to understand the wonders of the world, nature never fails to surprise us with its peculiarities. The country of Romania is no exception to this rule, as it boasts an exceptional natural phenomenon known as trovants – rocks that possess the ability to grow, shift, and even reproduce, resulting in awe-inspiring formations.

In the charming town of Costesti, Romania, lies a fascinating geological wonder – the growing rocks. These peculiarly shaped stones have long been a source of fascination for locals who believe that they possess the ability to grow and move, almost like living beings. Interestingly, these legends hold some truth.
Scientists believe that the irregular spherical shapes of these rocks were formed due to the unusually long and intense seismic activity that occurred during the Middle Miocene period. The strong shockwaves from massive earthquakes compacted the sandy sediments and concentrated the limestone cement into round lumps. Over time, as the elements wore away the surrounding sandstone, the denser trovants were exposed, resulting in the unique shapes we see today. It’s worth noting that not all of the hundreds of known trovants, found across at least 20 sites in Romania, were discovered because some of them were buried under the sand that was later quarried away.
But what’s even more interesting is the fact that these rocks can grow, move and multiply.

Trovants are an interesting geological phenomenon that consist of a solid stone core surrounded by sand or gravel. These structures can only be found in areas with highly-porous sand deposits and sandstone formations that have been cemented by water containing calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate plays a crucial role in the formation of trovants, as it helps the rocks to grow when exposed to rainwater. During heavy rain showers, the minerals from the rain combine with the chemicals in the rock, causing a reaction and pressure buildup inside. This pressure causes the rock to expand from its center to its edges, resulting in growth and multiplication at a rate of approximately 4-5 centimeters per millennium.

Trovants are distinct stones that come in various shapes such as cylindrical, spherical, and nodular. Their formation is attributed to the irregular secretion of cement, giving them their inconsistent sizes ranging from a few millimeters to as large as 10 meters. What sets them apart from other stones is their capacity to move and grow, along with their root-like extensions and visible age rings when cut open. Although these unique features remain unexplained by science to this day.

Trovants are a fascinating sight to behold in Romania’s Valcea County. They possess qualities of both plants and rocks, making it difficult to determine whether they are living or non-living beings. Nevertheless, their growth is mesmerizing and definitely worth witnessing.