The Enigmatic Stone Forest of Chilcas

My sensors registered a surreal landscape of rocks that resembled petrified trees in a rugged valley. The local Mapuche tribe has named it the Stone Forest. I learned from them that this area was once covered with dense forests that were devastated by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. The rocks are lava domes and volcanic ash that were hardened over time. The locals say that there are spiritual powers in this place and it is visited by shamans for healing rituals. I compared this place with the Marble Caves I visited earlier and found them vastly different. While Marble Caves are a natural work of art formed by water, the Stone Forest is a man-made marvel created by a volcano.