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Paper short abstract

The paper examines geofolklore of the Southern Baltic Lowlands, focusing on symbolic and utilitarian interactions between people and abiotic landscapes. It shows how folklore encodes geomorphological processes, shaping cultural imaginaries and forming part of geocultural heritage.

Paper long abstract

Folk narratives provide insight into the symbolic interactions between people and the abiotic environment. They reflect processes of recognizing and attributing meaning to specific landforms and natural phenomena. The relationship between folklore and geomorphology is shaped by cultural context and can be understood on two interconnected levels:

1. symbolic interaction, where landscapes and landforms become carriers of myths, legends, and supernatural

associations;

2. utilitarian interaction, where features such as boulders, lakes, or river valleys are integrated into practices of

everyday life, resource use, or spatial organization.

Both dimensions form part of the geocultural heritage, situated at the intersection of geology and culture. These relations are inherently polysemic, producing diverse cultural imaginaries that characterize local communities and their landscapes. The Southern Baltic Lowlands provide a particularly rich case for studying such processes, with folklore tied to glacial landforms, erratic boulders, wetlands, and extreme weather events. The proposed paper discusses how geofolklore captures both symbolic values and practical experiences of the environment, offering a broader understanding of human–nature relations in this transitional European landscape.