“Lost in time” sounds like a movie title. Yet, it is a fitting description for some legends surrounding Golosov Ravine. This deep ravine in Moscow is more than just a geological feature. It’s a place steeped in mystery and strange tales.
Golosov Ravine, also known as Vlasov ravine, cleaves Kolomenskoye Park in two. This natural border intrigues visitors. It separates the ancient Kolomenskoe village and Gosudarev courtyard from the ancient Diyakov site.
Imagine soldiers of the Crimean khan Devliet-Girey. They wandered through Golosov Ravine long ago. They were lost for ten years. They couldn’t find their way out.
In 1831, two peasants disappeared here. Amazingly, they reappeared 20 years later. They told a strange story. They had been trapped in a dense fog. They met large, hairy, manlike creatures. These creatures used hand signals to guide them. The peasants were shocked to find that decades had passed.
A policeman reported seeing a “hairy wild man” in 1926. The man was over two meters tall. The investigation led to a remarkable claim. A Soviet Boy Scout troop had captured a leshy. Leshy is a Slavic mythological woodland spirit.
Golosov Ravine had different names. Garden stream, Kolomenskoe stream, Palace ravine, and Imperial ravine are some. Golosov might be misinterpreted from Volosov. Volosov refers to Veles. Veles was a pagan god.
Geologists offer a different explanation. They say the ravine is a modified valley. It was once part of an ancient river network. A glacier near the Karelian Isthmus transported stones here.
Scientists measured the electromagnetic field in the ravine. It exceeded the reference value significantly. Cell phones may drain quickly here. Compasses may point towards the ravine’s center.
The “sacred stones of Kolomenskoe” are here. They are sandstone rocks. One is called Deviy, meaning “Virgin”. People associate it with female fertility. The other is Gus’, meaning “Goose”. People attach cloths to trees as offerings.
Several springs are also considered sacred. Before the Revolution, a wooden chapel stood near the springs. Some springs were destroyed during renovations.
Today, Golosov Ravine is more accessible. Sturdy pathways and stairs make it safer for visitors. You can wander, venerate rocks, meditate, and anoint yourself in spring water. Just be aware of the mysteries surrounding Golosov Ravine. No recent reports exist of time travel or hairy man-creatures, though. So walk carefully.