The Twelve Apostles (Victoria)

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The Twelve Apostles are a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction. Originally the site was called the Sow and Piglets. Muttonbird Island near Loch Ard Gorge was the ‘Sow’ and the smaller rock stacks the ‘Piglets.’^[1] The name was changed in the 1950s to present name recalling the biblical The Twelve Apostles.

This was done to lure more visitors^{[citation needed]}. Despite the name there are not twelve individual stacks visible in any one location.

The Twelve Apostles are between the towns of Port Campbell and Princetown on the Great Ocean Road. In the early 2000s a visitor centre was built on the inland side of the road to allow for easy parking and access to the best viewing area.^[2] Helicopter rides around the formations are also available.

Contents 1 Creation of the Apostles 2 Erosion of the Apostles 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Creation of the Apostles

Existing headlands will eventually become new limestone stacks in the future.^[1]

1. Wave action erodes the cliff face, leaving harder rock as headlands.

2. Waves eat away the rock at sea level, forming caves on each side of the headland. The caves eventually meet up, forming an arch.

3. The arch collapses, leaving a rock stack.

4. Further undercutting by waves and opening up of vertical cracks in the rock by rain and saltwater, gradually reduce the stack to a low platform or reef.

[edit] Erosion of the Apostles

The stacks have been formed by erosion, and are all different heights and thicknesses. A number have fallen over entirely as waves continually erode their bases. A 50-metre tall Apostle collapsed on July 3, 2005.

Other well-known features in Port Campbell National Park created by erosion are the London Arch, Loch Ard Gorge and the Island Archway ^[3]

The rate of erosion at the base of the limestone pillars is approximately 2 cm per year.^[4]

[edit] Gallery

Twelve Apostles	The leftmost stack disintegrated on July 3, 2005	This picture was taken one hour after the stack had crashed on July 3, 2005	The Twelve Apostles as seen eastward from the lookout point
The Twelve Apostles	The Twelve Apostles, taken in April 2007	Sunset at The Twelve Apostles	An evening shot of The Twelve Apostles

[edit] See also

• London Arch (formerly London Bridge)
• Loch Ard Gorge
• Gibson Steps

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• BBC article about the collapse

v • d • e Visitor attractions on the Great Ocean Road Attractions Bay of Islands Coastal Park | Bells Beach | Gibson Steps | Great Otway National Park | The Grotto | Loch Ard Gorge | London Arch | Port Campbell National Park | The Twelve Apostles Towns Aireys Inlet | Anglesea | Apollo Bay | Bellbrae | Jan Juc | Lavers Hill | Lorne | Peterborough | Port Campbell | Torquay | Warrnambool | Wye River

Coordinates: 38°39′57″S 143°06′16″E / 38.66583°S 143.10444°E / -38.66583; 143.10444