Rock formations
Rock formations as used in this article refers to isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrops. These are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. Rock formation in general refers to specific sedimentary strata or other rock unit in stratigraphic and petrologic studies.
How rock formations are created
Geologists classify rocks into three types according to their origin. A rock structure can be created in any rock type or combination:-
- Sedimentary rocks are created from bits of rocks that have broken off other rocks by wind or water erosion, and deposited by wind, ice, or water. Erosion later exposes them in their current form. An example is Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.
- Metamorphic rocks are created by rocks that have evolved into another kind of rock, usually by heat and pressure. An example is Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota.
- Igneous rocks are created when molten rock cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization. They may be either intrusive bodies or volcanic extrusives. Again, erosive forces sculpt their current forms. An example is Iao Needle in Maui, Hawaii.
Geologists have created a number of terms to describe different rock structures in the landscape that can be formed by natural processes:-
- Inselberg is a residual relief feature. It can be an isolated hill, a knob, ridge or small mountain that rises abruptly, like an island, from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. Inselberg is a German word that means "island mountain". Uluru/Ayers Rock in Australia is a noted example.
Lists of rock formations
- The Olgas, Northern Territory, Australia
- Twelve Apostles, Melbourne, Australia
- Remarkable Rocks, Southern Australia
- Wave Rock, Hyden, Western Australia
- Murphy's Hay Stacks, Nullarbor Desert, Western Australia
- Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia
- Kata Tjuta,Northern Territory, Australia
- Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park, Western Australia
- Devil's Marbles, Northern Territory, Australia
- Truman Track Beach, Punakaiki, New Zealand
- Castle Hill Basin, South Island, New Zealand
- Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
- Talava Arches, Niue, South Pacific
See also: Rock formations in Russia.
- Yoichi, Hokkaido, Japan
- Yeliu, Taiwan
- Tanjong Bunga, Penang, Malaysia
- Jabalpur Marble Rocks, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Face Rock, Deccan, Hyderabad, India
- Sitio Lugsangan, Barangay Tabon, Cebu, Philippines
- Yun Meng Mountains, Beijing, China
- Guilin, China
- Grandfather and Grandmother stone, Ko Samui, Thailand
- James Bond Island, Phang Nga, Thailand
- Halong Bay, Vietnam
- Seorak-san National Park, Sokcho, South Korea
- Taichar Chuluu, Arkhangai Aimag, Mongolia
- Terelj National Park, Gorkhi, Mongolia
- Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia
- Timna Arch, Eilat, Israel
- Karnei Hittim, Israel
- Pasabagi, Cappadocia, Turkey
- Goreme National Park, Turkey
- Tegherivank, Armenia
- Geghard, Armenia
- Petra, Amman, Jordan
- Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan
- Kuh-E-Namak, Iran
- Elemite Rock, Fars, Iran
- Mahneshan, Zanjan, Iran
- Pigeon Rocks, Beirut, Lebanon
- Sakhret-El-Rawsheh, Beirut, Lebanon
- Gobustan, Azerbaijan
- Aphrodite's Rock, Paphos, Cyprus
- Wadi Dhar, Yemen
- Bani Al Harit, Saana, Yemen
- White Desert, Egypt
- Tamanrasset, Algeria
- Tassili Mountains, Algeria
- Cedarberg Wilderness Area, Cape Town, South Africa
- Kagga Kamma, Ceres, Western Cape, South Africa
- Vingerklip, Damaraland, Namibia
- Waterberg Plateau, Namibia
- Motombo Rock Formations, Zimbabwe
- Maleme Dam, Matobos, Zimbabwe
- Domboshava Rocks, Zimbabwe
- Geuzzam, Niger
- Pic du Sindou, Burkina Faso
- Doumes de Fabedougou, Burkina Faso
- Andringitra, Madagascar
- Isalo National Park, Madagascar
- Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue, Seychelles
- Riyom Rock, Jos, Nigeria
- Olumo Rock, Abeokuta, Nigeria
- Kamale Pinnacle, Mubi, Nigeria
- Siroua Mountains, Morocco
- Tafraoute, Morocco
- Chebika Rock, Tunisia
- Tamazrat, Tunisia
- Kola Gorge, Cameroon
- Benguela Province, Angola
- Iona, Tombwa, Angola
- Decemhare, Eritrea
- Tsavo Rocks, Kenya
- Makuzi Beach, Chintheche, Malawi
- Massif des Aguilles de Garmi, Mali
- Burget Tuyur, Selima, Sudan
- Akakus Mountains, Libya
See Rock formations in the United States.
See Rock formations in Canada
- Ayo Rock Formations, Aruba
- Casibari Boulders, Aruba
- Guajataca, Puerto Rico
- Virgin Gorda Rocks, British Virgin Islands
- Devil's Trail, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
- Bath's Beach, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
- Coki Beach, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
- Governor's Harbor, Eleuthera, Bahamas
- Tent Bay, Barbados
- Pointe des Chateaux, Grande Terre, Guadeloupe
- Malendure Rock, Basse Terre, Guadeloupe
- Diamond Rock, Torrens Point, Saba, Netherlands Antilles
- Stonehaven Bay, Tobago
- Piedras Encimidas Valley, Zacatlan, Mexico
- Copper Canyon, Chihuahua, Mexico
- Los Arcos Rocks, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Cerro de Arcos, Loja, Ecuador
- Dali's Desert, Potosi, Bolivia
- Valle de Las Rocas, Uyuni, Bolivia
- Canon de Duene, Bolivia
- Ponta Grossa, Brazil
- Pedro do Jacare, São Paulo (state)São Paulo , Brazil
- Valle de la Luna, Antofagasta, Chile
- Playa de la Calabocillos, Constitucion, Chile
- Bosque del Cabo, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
- Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island, Galapagos Islands
- Quebrada de Humahuaca, Humahuaca Argentina
- Ischigualasto, San Juan Province, Argentina
- Cerro Fitz Roy, El Chalten, Argentina
- Amambay, Paraguay
- La Piedra Pintada, Parque Congreso de Abril, Uruguay
- Colca Canyon, Arequipa, Peru
- Tepui, Roraima, Canaima National Park, Venezuela
- Piedras de San Martin, Ciudad de Coro, Venezuela
- Piedra de Penol, Antioquia, Colombia
- Laguna de La Plaza, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia
- Brimham Rocks, Nidderdale, Yorkshire, England
- Dovedale, Derbyshire, England
- Cheesewring, Minions, Cornwall, England
- Glen Maye, Isle of Man, England
- Old Harry Rocks, Dorset, England
- Durdle Door, Dorset, England
- Elgol, Isle of Skye, Scotland
- The Cobbler, Arrochar, Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Woolacombe Rocks, Mull, Scotland
- Mew Slade, Wales
- Solva, St. David's Head, Dyfed, Wales
- Flat Holm, Bristol Channel, Wales
- White Rocks Beach, Bushmills, Northern Ireland
- Giant's Causeway, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- Beara Peninsula, Bantry, County Cork, Ireland
- Skellig Rocks, Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry, Ireland
Others in Europe
- Il Gargano, Vieste, Apulia, Italy
- Palmarola, Sicily, Italy
- Valle Seriana, Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy
- Golfo di Orosei,Cala Luna, Monte Tiscali, Sardinia, Italy
- Los Roques de Garcia, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- Las Canades, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- Ciudad Encantada, Cuenca, Spain
- Autol, La Roja, Spain
Lists of rock formations by country
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