thumb|200px|The Lesko Stone, pictured in 1968 {{refimprove|date=November 2024}} The '''Lesko Stone''' ({{langx|pl|Kamień Leski}}) is a distinctive rock formation in the forest near the city of Lesko in the Bieszczady Mountains in Poland. It is most likely a result of glacial movements in the area and the whole formation is believed to have been carried to the present site by a glacier. The stone is over {{convert|65|ft|m}} tall and is entirely a work of erosion. Its peculiar shape was further pronounced as the area was a small rock quarry in past centuries. Despite being an environmentally protected site it is often scaled by climbers and outdoor enthusiasts. It can be reached by following a lengthy tourist trail from Lesko or from a road roughly {{convert|300|ft|m}} away.
Despite its name, it is located in the village of Glinne.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.krajoznawcy.info.pl/leski-kamien-skala-pod-ochrona-63369|title=Leski Kamień, pierwsza skała pod ochroną|first=Andrzej|last=Węgrowicz|work=Otwarty Przewodnik Krajoznawczy|date=7 May 2019|access-date=5 November 2024|language=pl}}</ref>
==Folklore==
The stone is an important aspect of local culture with a number of legends related to its shape and origin. The most popular of those is related to the 16th century church in Lesko which claims the stone is a remnant of a failed attempt by the devil to destroy Christianity in the area. A variation of this story links the stone to a number of monasteries in the area. Many more legends exist and some of them are told on plaques currently fixed to the stone.
==Mentions in Culture==
Because of its location on the main route through the Bieszczady Mountains the Lesko Stone is mentioned several times in literature. The stone's beauty was an inspiration for a poem specifically about it written by Aleksander Fredro and also appears in his other works. It was also written about by Oskar Kolberg, Stanisław Staszic, and Wincenty Pol among others.
==References== {{reflist}}
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Category:Rock formations of Poland
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