Burok-völgy (Burok Valley)

Apart from a few peaks and horsts the landscape of Bakony Mountains is dominated by rolling hills. Hard to access areas with steep formations are quite rare, especially in the eastern part, which makes the picturesque Burok-völgy unique there. Lumbering did not affect the valley as much as surrounding forests because steep cliffs and rock formations posed a great challenge to cut and transport lumber. Finally, the nature reserve status gained in the last century provided additional protection to local values.

As a result, Burok-völgy hides an intact ancient forest today as a part of Forest Reserve Programme aimed to maintain and study unspoiled nature without human intervention in the local ecosystem. Compared to managed forests you can observe a substantially different habitat with trees of various age and kind including broken and fallen ones decaying at the bottom of the gorge. Overgrown underbrush and fallen trees makes progress challenging. This natural obstacle course is further enhanced by dolomite cliffs and due to karst processes nearly 20 hollows have been formed on the sides of the gorge. Plant communities vary from calcareous grassland to ravine forests. 

Local microclimate has preserved species that spread over the Carpathian Basin during the last glacial period as they were protected from warming by the chilly and moist air of the shady ravine. Except periods of snowmelt or heavy rains the gorge is dry.

The formation of Burok-völgy is uncertain, most likely of tectonic origin. On the rim of Tési Plateau a river cut through underlying surfaces eventually wearing away rock layers. The main branch of the gorge is 10 km long with a depth of 50 to 80 metres at certain points. It has had a protected status since 1995. The National Blue Trail used to run at the bottom but later it was redirected to avoid the difficult terrain and protect the gorge.  At the bottom you may follow the Red (P) and Red + (P+) markers.

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