Because of the , wind speeds inside the fissures can reach up to 35 mph (≈ 56 km/h) even when ambient wind is calm. Temperature gradients are stark: at the base of a crack, night‑time temperatures can dip to ‑12 °C , while at the summit they hover around +8 °C . These fluctuations create a thermal convection loop that drives the unique micro‑ecosystem of the rock‑dwelling salamanders.
I set out at dawn, the valley shrouded in mist. The first glimpse of the monolith was like a silhouette against the rising sun—a black wall, towering, indifferent. The wind howled through the gaps, sounding almost like a low‑frequency chant. quite imposing plus 4 full crack