List of rock formations

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For processes by which rocks are formed, see Formation of rocks. For the lithostratigraphic term 'formation', see Lithostratigraphy.
Raouché or Pigeons' Rock in Beirut, Lebanon
Island in the Sky mesa, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA
View of Meteora, Greece

This is a list of rock formations that include isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrops. These formations are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. The term 'rock formation' can also refer to specific sedimentary strata or other rock unit in stratigraphic and petrologic studies.

A rock structure can be created in any rock type or combination:

  • Sedimentary rocks are created by a variety of processes but usually involving deposition, grain by grain, layer by layer, in water or, in the case of terrestrial sediments, on land through the action of wind or sometimes moving ice. 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 been transformed into another kind of rock, usually by some combination of heat, pressure and chemical alteration. An example are the Seneca Rocks in West Virginia.
  • Igneous rocks are created when molten rock cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization. They may be either plutonic bodies or volcanic extrusives. Again, erosive forces sculpt their current forms. An example is Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.

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.
  • Peak
  • Stack
  • Mesa
  • Butte
  • Escarpment
  • Gorge
  • Sea cliff
  • River cliff
  • Stone run
  • Crag
  • Tor
  • Promontory is a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water.

Contents

[edit] Asia

A replica of Long Ya Men (Dragon's Teeth Gate), Singapore.
Candle Rock (Yoichi, Hokkaidō, Japan).
Sunken formations of the Yonaguni Monument
Paşabağı, Cappadocia/Turkey.

[edit] Armenia

[edit] China

[edit] Jordan

[edit] India

[edit] Iran

  • Kuh-E-Namak, Iran
  • Elemite Rock, Fars, Iran
  • Mahneshan, Zanjan, Iran

[edit] Israel

[edit] Japan

[edit] Lebanon

[edit] Mongolia

[edit] Philippines

[edit] Thailand

[edit] Turkey

[edit] Yemen

  • Wadi Dhar, Yemen
  • Bani Al Harit, Saana, Yemen

[edit] Other countries

[edit] Africa

[edit] Algeria

  • Tamanrasset
  • Tassili Mountains

[edit] Angola

  • Benguela Province
  • Iona, Tombwa

[edit] Burkina Faso

  • Doumes de Fabedougou
  • Pic du Sindou

[edit] Cameroon

  • Kola Gorge

[edit] Egypt

  • White Desert

[edit] Eritrea

  • Decemhare

[edit] Kenya

[edit] Libya

  • Akakus Mountains

[edit] Madagascar

[edit] Malawi

  • Makuzi Beach, Chintheche yui

[edit] Mali

  • Massif des Aguilles de Garmi

[edit] Mauritania

[edit] Morocco

  • Siroua Mountains
  • Tafraoute

[edit] Namibia

  • Bogenfels
  • Vingerklip, Damaraland
  • Waterberg Plateau

[edit] Niger

  • Geuzzam

[edit] Nigeria

[edit] Seychelles

  • Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue

[edit] South Africa

[edit] Sudan

  • Burget Tuyur, Selima

[edit] Tunisia

  • Chebika Rock
  • Tamazrat

[edit] Zimbabwe

  • Domboshava Rocks
  • Maleme Dam, Matobos
  • Motombo Rock Formations

[edit] North America

[edit] United States of America

Main article: Rock formations in the United States

[edit] Canada

[edit] Caribbean

[edit] Mexico

[edit] Central America

[edit] South America

[edit] Argentina

  • Quebrada de Humahuaca, Humahuaca
  • Ischigualasto, San Juan Province, Argentina
  • Cerro Fitz Roy, El Chalten, Argentina CA

[edit] Bolivia

  • Dali's Desert, Potosi
  • Valle de Las Rocas, Uyuni
  • Canon de Duene

[edit] Brazil

[edit] Chile

[edit] Colombia

[edit] Ecuador

[edit] Falkland Islands

[edit] Paraguay

[edit] Peru

[edit] Uruguay

[edit] Venezuela

[edit] Europe

[edit] Bosnia and Herzegovina

[edit] Bulgaria

Main article: Rock formations in Bulgaria

[edit] Croatia

  • Bijele stijene (White Rocks) and Samarske stijene (Samar Rocks), Bjelolasica mountain [2]

[edit] Czech Republic

[edit] Denmark

[edit] Estonia

[edit] Finland

[edit] France

[edit] Germany

[edit] Greece

[edit] Gibraltar

The iconic Rock of Gibraltar

[edit] Bailiwick of Guernsey

[edit] Iceland

[edit] Ireland

[edit] Italy

[edit] Latvia

  • Vidzeme
  • Pusena Kalns, Bartava

[edit] Malta

[edit] Isle of Man

[edit] Norway

[edit] Poland

  • Sloneczna
  • Ciężkowice
  • Zielone Wzgorze, Piechowice
  • Dolina Koscieliska, Western Tatras
  • Dunajec Gorge, Zakopane

[edit] Portugal

  • Ponta da Piedade, Lagos, Algarve
  • Albufeira
  • Porto Moniz, Madeira
  • Ponta de Sao Lourenco, Madeira

[edit] Romania

[edit] Russia

[edit] Serbia

[edit] Spain

Los Callejones de Las Majadas rock formations in the Serranía de Cuenca

[edit] Sweden

[edit] Switzerland

[edit] Slovakia

Gotická brána, Sulov rocks / Slovakia

[edit] Ukraine

[edit] United Kingdom

Main article: Rock formations in the United Kingdom

[edit] Oceania

[edit] Australia

Uluru
Mount Augustus

[edit] New Zealand

Punakaiki's pancake rocks
Castle Hill

[edit] Other countries

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Olumo Rock website
  2. ^ "Escalando el Gunko de Boquete" (in Spanish). El Chiricano. 2007-06-04. http://www.elchiricano.com/archives/134. 
  3. ^ Babacai Rock, Wikimapia/www.banaterra.eu
  4. ^ Красноярские Столбы
  5. ^ The Djavolja Varos (Devil's Town) Natural Landmark, UNESCO World Heritage
  6. ^ "Vodopad Prskalo" (in Serbian). FreeBiking.org. http://www.freebiking.org/GPS/kesevi/prskalo.html. 

[edit] External links

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