Hidden deep within the arid reaches of the Libyan Desert, near the remote mountain town of Ghat in southwest Libya, lies one of the world’s most surreal and enigmatic landscapes—the Valley of the Planets, also known locally as Kawakeb.
Nestled in the secluded Wan Tikofi valley, this geological wonder has long captivated explorers, geologists, and travelers with its haunting beauty and scientific mystery.
At the heart of Kawakeb’s allure are its bizarre rock formations known as trovants. Scattered across the desert floor, these stones are striking in appearance—many resemble the planets of our solar system, from spherical orbs like Mars to bulging shapes akin to gas giants.
Their almost cosmic forms have inspired myths and curiosity for centuries.
What makes these trovants even more astonishing is their strange, life-like behavior. Unlike typical rocks, trovants are said to “grow” in size over time, shift positions on their own, and in rare conditions, even appear to “multiply.”
This phenomenon, which defies conventional geology, has baffled scientists. When split open, trovants reveal internal concentric rings, much like the growth rings found in trees. These mysterious layers suggest a biological rhythm to their formation—though they are inorganic, their structure and development echo patterns seen in living organisms.
Legends pᴀssed down by local Tuareg communities speak of these stones as sacred or enchanted—guardians of ancient knowledge or gifts from the stars. For scientists, they represent a unique confluence of geology, time, and environmental conditions that challenge our understanding of Earth’s processes.
Today, the Valley of the Planets remains a remote and rarely visited site, but those who venture into its dreamlike terrain often describe it as a journey into another world—a silent, timeless place where the boundary between the living and the inanimate seems strangely blurred.
