Location
State: Latvia
Region: Kurzeme
County: Dundaga
Parish: Dundaga
Other references to the location
In the forest massif between Puze and Dundaga, about 3 km of the Virpe–Blāzma road, in the winding of the forest firebreak, at its outer side, in a fir tree forest. The stone is situated actually on the border firebreak between the former Ventspils un Talsi Districts.
Coordinates
lat=57.4230555556, lon=22.0933333333
57° 25′ 23″ N, 22° 5′ 35″ E
Description
An outstanding natural monument in the dense woods of Northern Kurzeme. Unfortunately, it is one of the most demolished Latvian grand stones. It used to be larger than it is seen nowadays. Already in unknown times it was split with shims. Two large pieces were split off and at least three smaller ones, as well as fine pieces, and it is assumed that some pieces of stone had been taken away as well. The total volume of the red large crystal granite stone ranges it among 30 Latvian most distinguished stones. The volume of the stone is 40 cubic meters, circumference 17.3 m, height 3.3 m.
Narrative
The fact that the stone used to be larger once is proved by its description dating back to the first half of the 20th century (E. Jansons. Dabas pieminekļi Latvijā. // Latvijas zeme, daba, tauta. (Natural Monuments in Latvia.//Latvian Land, Nature, People.) II Volume, 1936, p. 324), “5. Secular stone, a field stone (granite block) during the Stone Hill’s inspection walk of the forest-guard of Dundaga parish of Ventspils county, in marshy woods. The circumference of the stone is 32 m, height 3 m, it belongs to the largest field stones in Latvia, but it is split into 3 parts.” At the beginning of 1990s, a nature researcher G. Eniņš described the stone more imaginatively: “The grand stone is broken, looks like it has been split into several pieces. The main piece of the stone has been split into two parts by a crack resembling a lightning arrow, a stretch wide zigzag crack. Two large blocks have been thrown to the opposite side of the forest firebreak and a heap of smaller broken stones is scattered at one side. Has the Devil himself been raging there? At the stone on the ground there is a broken to pieces wooden plate of underterminable age “Border Stone “Devil’s Foot””. The Devil himself would not have demolished his own stone. The demolisher could be only a human or thunder. But what about the foot itself? No carved foot (either Devil’s or human’s) could be found. Maybe this foot was destroyed when the stone was split into several pieces?” . The stone is attributed to ancient sites due to its mythological name.
Attraction
Excellent
Availability
It is quite easily accessible. There are indication signs “Devil’s Foot” from Ventspils side — one by the stone, the other — at a distance of 3.1 km by the Virpe–Blāzma road, at the forest firebreak crossroad where one must make a turn to reach the grand stone. The most convenient way to reach the stone is to take the roads and firebreaks from Ventspils county’s side, but from Dundaga’s side —it is quite complicated.
Infrastructure, management, facilities
Within the territory, facilitation and maintenance works have been performed. Before the object at the highway and by the object, there are brown tourism signs “Devil’s Foot” (“Velnapēda”). There is also a “geocaching” ambush made in the object for
Local info
There is no information stand on site
Capacity
10 – 40
Publicity
Popular
Legal Status
State property
Comments
The Akmeņkalni Devil’s Foot Stone is under state protection since 1925. Sometimes it is also called the Border Stone and Vanagi Grand Stone according to the name of the closest forest guard’s homestead “Vanagi”.
