- Place
- Tauragė District Municipality
- Region
- Samogitia
- Type
- protected active geological cliff with a viewpoint
- Address
- Near Geniai homestead, Mažonai Eldership, Tauragė District
- Coordinates
- 55.35112, 22.17301
- Visit duration
- 30-55 minutes for the viewpoint and a safe inspection
- Best time
- a dry day from late spring to autumn, when the approach is not waterlogged
An active 160 m cliff on the Jūra
The outcrop stands on the Jūra's right bank at a sharp bend near Geniai homestead and the northern edge of Tyreliai Forest. It covers about 0.53 ha, extends for 160 m, and rises 24-25 m. Upper slopes vary from roughly 40 to 85 degrees, while the lower section is gentler.
The site became a geological natural-heritage object in 2016. Its value lies not merely in dimensions but in the fact that valley formation remains active rather than preserved as a static old section.
Current undercuts while gravity pulls
At the outside of the bend, the Jūra strongly erodes and undercuts the foot of the bank. Once support is lost, waterlogged deposits crumble, creep, or collapse. Landslides of different ages and sizes therefore gather below.
Fresh cracks, leaning trees, and recently torn vegetation signal instability. Never step onto overhangs or descend directly from the cliff top. A slide can begin without clear warning even in dry weather.
Layers from the last glaciation
The upper section exposes up to 3 m of glaciolacustrine varved clay deposited in an ice-marginal basin. Its thin bands reflect seasonal changes in sediment settling on the basin floor.
Below lies brownish-grey glacial sandy loam with pebbles, cobbles, and layers of differently graded sand and gravel. Colluvium - material washed and slipped down the slope - covers the lower face, so the complete geological section is not equally visible everywhere.
Viewpoint, access, and safety
A viewpoint has been built above the outcrop. The map pin identifies the site rather than a large paved car park, so assess the final approach by signs and road conditions. Forest paths and the cliff top can be slippery after rain.
Respect barriers and keep away from the edge. Step back while photographing and keep children and dogs beside you. There is no ticket office, but digging or collecting geological material is prohibited at this protected site.
