List of rock formations
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A rock formation is an isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrop. Rock 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Geologists have created a number of terms to describe different rock structures in the landscape that can be formed by natural processes:
- Butte
- Crag
- Escarpment
- Gorge
- Inselberg, or monadnock, 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.
- Mesa
- Peak
- Promontory is a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water.
- River cliff
- Sea cliff
- Stack
- Stone run
- Tor
Here is a list of rock formations by continent.
Asia
Armenia
China
- Yun Meng Mountains, Beijing, China
- Guilin, China
- Amah Rock, Hong Kong
- Lion Rock, New Kowloon/New Territories, Hong Kong
- Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Zhangjiajie, China
Jordan
- Petra, Amman, Jordan
- Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan
India
- Jabalpur Marble Rocks, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Face Rock, Deccan, Hyderabad, India
- Yana, India
Iran
Israel
- Rosh Hanikra, Israel
- Timna Arch, Eilat, Israel
- Karnei Hattin, Israel
- Maarat Keshet, Israel
- Masada, Israel
Japan
- Yoichi, Hokkaidō, Japan
Lebanon
- Cape Lithoprosopon, Lebanon
- Raouché, Beirut, Lebanon
Mongolia
- Taikhar Chuluu, Arkhangai Aimag, Mongolia
- Turtle Rock, Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Töv Aimag/Nalaikh, Mongolia
Philippines
- Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Burgos, Ilocos Norte
- Punta Matagar, Banton, Romblon
- Marabut Rock Formations, Marabut, Samar
- Biri Island Rock Formation, Biri, Northern Samar
- Nakabuang Arc, Sabtang, Batanes
- Alapad Rock, Batan, Batanes
- Apo Island Rock Formation, Dauin, Negros Oriental
- Boto ni Kurakog, Bagamanoc, Catanduanes
- Lugsangan Rock Formation, Dalaguete, Cebu
Thailand
- Grandfather and Grandmother stone, Ko Samui, Thailand
- James Bond Island, Phang Nga
- Lalu (ละลุ), rock formations caused by erosion at the eastern end of the Sankamphaeng Range in Sa Kaeo Province
- Phae Mueang Phi ("Ghost Canyon") near Phrae in the Phi Pan Nam Range
- Phu Phra Bat Buabok in Udon Thani Province
Turkey
- Paşabağı, Cappadocia, Turkey
- Goreme National Park, Turkey
Yemen
Other countries
- Gobustan National Park, Azerbaijan
- Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, Mon State, Burma
- Aphrodite's Rock, Paphos, Cyprus
- Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia
- Jeti-Ögüz, Jeti-Ögüz district, Kyrgyzstan
- Tanjong Bunga, Penang, Malaysia
- Long Ya Men, Singapore
- Seorak-san National Park, Sokcho, South Korea
- Yehliu, Taiwan
- Halong Bay, Vietnam
Africa
Algeria
- Tamanrasset
- Tassili Mountains
Angola
- Iona, Tombwa
Burkina Faso
- Doumes de Fabedougou
- Pic du Sindou
Cameroon
- Kola Gorge
Egypt
- Khaboba
- Thebes
- Esna shale
- Nubian sand stone
Eritrea
- Decemhare
Kenya
- Tsavo Rocks
Libya
- Akakus Mountains
- Jebel Akhdar
Madagascar
- Andringitra Massif
- Isalo National Park
- Tsingy d'Ankarana
- Tsingy de Bemaraha
- Tsingy de Namoroka
- Tsingy Rouge
Malawi
- Makuzi Beach, Chintheche yui
Mali
- Massif des Aguilles de Garmi
Mauritania
Morocco
- Siroua Mountains
- Tafraoute
Namibia
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- Bogenfels
- Vingerklip, Damaraland
- Waterberg Plateau
Niger
- Geuzzam
Nigeria
- Olumo Rock, Abeokuta[1]
- Riyom Rock, Jos
- Zuma Rock, Abuja
Seychelles
- Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue
South Africa
- Cedarberg Wilderness Area, Western Cape
- Kagga Kamma, Ceres, Western Cape
- Three Sisters (Northern Cape)
Sudan
- Burget Tuyur, Selima
Tunisia
- Chebika Rock
- Tamazrat
Zimbabwe
- Domboshava Rocks
- Maleme Dam, Matobos
- Motombo Rock Formations
North America
United States of America
Canada
- Devil's Chair, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario
- Flowerpot Island, Georgian Bay, Ontario
- Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick
- Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick
- Gabriola Island, British Columbia
- Brady's Beach, Bamfield, British Columbia
- Chimney Rock, Marble Canyon, British Columbia
- Heron Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia
- Siwash Rock, Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia
- Percé Rock, Gaspé, Quebec
- Tete d'Indien, Perce, Gaspé, Quebec
- Balancing Rock, Long Island, Nova Scotia
- Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia
- Banff National Park, Alberta
- Big Rock, Okotoks, Alberta
- Drumheller, Alberta
- Walsh, Alberta, see Medicine Hat, Alberta
- Main Topsail Hill, near Gaff Topsails, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Arches, St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Elephant Rock, Prince Edward Island
- Giant's Chair, Howard's Cove, Prince Edward Island
- Victoria Rock, Yukon
- Sleeping Giant, Ontario
Caribbean
- Ayo Rock Formations, Aruba
- Casibari Boulders, Aruba
- Guajataca, Puerto Rico
- Devil's Trail, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
- The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
- Coki Beach, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
- Governor's Harbor, Eleuthera, Bahamas
- Ile a Vache, Cayes, Haiti
- Tent Bay, Barbados
- Pointe des Châteaux, Grande Terre, Guadeloupe
- Malendure Rock, Basse Terre, Guadeloupe
- Diamond Rock, Torrens Point, Saba, Netherlands Antilles
- Diamond Rock (Rocher du Diamant), Martinique
- Stonehaven Bay, Tobago
- Sandy Beach, Saint Lucia
- Las Cuevas Bay Trinidad
Mexico
- Piedras Encimadas Valley, Zacatlán, Puebla, Mexico
- Peña de Bernal, Bernal Mexico
- Copper Canyon, Chihuahua, Mexico
- Los Arcos Rocks, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico
- Hierve el Agua, San Lorenzo Albarradas, Mexico
Central America
- Bosque del Cabo, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
- Los Ladrillos, Boquete, Panama[2]
South America
Argentina
- Quebrada de Humahuaca, Humahuaca
- Ongamira Valley, Córdoba, Argentina
- Ischigualasto, San Juan Province, Argentina
- Monte Fitz Roy, El Chalten, Argentina CA
Bolivia
- Dali's Desert, Potosi
- Valle de Las Rocas, Uyuni
- Canon de Duene
Brazil
- Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Ponta Grossa, Brazil
- Pedro do Jacare, São Paulo, Brazil
- Dedo de Deus (God's Finger Rock), Serra dos Órgãos, Brazil
- Pedra do Cão Sentado, Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Pedra da Galinha Choca, Quixadá, Ceará, Brazil
Chile
- Valle de la Luna, Antofagasta, Chile
- Playa de la Calabocillos, Constitucion, Chile
- Silla del Diablo, Chile
Colombia
- El Peñón de Guatapé (La Piedra de Peñol), Antioquia, Colombia
- Laguna de La Plaza, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia
Ecuador
- Cerro de Arcos, Loja, Ecuador
- Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island, Galápagos Islands
Falkland Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela
- Tepui, Roraima, Canaima National Park
- Piedras de San Martin, La Vela de Coro, Estado Falcón
Europe
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Hajdučka vrata, Čvrsnica mountain
Bulgaria
- Basarbovo Monastery, Rousse
- Belogradchik Rocks
- Iskar Gorge, Sofia
- Melnik Earth Pyramids, Melnik,
- Sozopol
- Wonderful Bridges
- Golden Bridges (‘Zlatnite Mostove’), Vitosha
- Golyamata Gramada (‘Big Pile’), Vitosha
- Pobiti Kamani
Croatia
- Paklenica
- Bijele stijene (White Rocks) and Samarske stijene (Samar Rocks), Velika Kapela mountain
Czech Republic
- Teplice nad Metují
- Medvědí Stezka (Bear's path), Šumava mountains, Klatovy
- Vraní skála, Brdy
- Suché skály, Turnov
- Hruboskalsko
Denmark
- Bornholm
- Fur Formation
- Møns Klint, Møn
- Gedser Odde, Gedser
- Stevns Klint, Eastern Zealand
- Cliffs of Sangstrup, Djursland
Estonia
- Vormsi island
Finland
- Närpes
- Naantali
France
- Roussillon, Vaucluse
- Lesconil, Brittany
- Les Calanche, Corsica
- Rocher des Doms, Avignon
- Étretat, Normandy
- Cassis, near Marseille, Provence
Georgia
Germany
- List of rock formations in the Harz
- Externsteine
- Falkenfelsen
- Rotenfels, Nahe, Bad Münster am Stein-Ebernburg, Rhineland-Palatinate
- Teufelsturm, Elbe Sandstone Mountains
- Wasgau
Greece
- Meteora
- Monemvasia
- Samaria Gorge, Crete
- Sarti, Sithonia
Gibraltar
Bailiwick of Guernsey
- Les Autelets, Sark, Channel Islands
- Telegraph Bay, Alderney, Channel Islands
Iceland
- Vestmannaeyjar
- Jokulsa Canyon National Park, Mývatn
- Dimmuborgir, Mývatn
- Dyrhólaey
- Eystrahorn, Hvalnes
Ireland
- Beara Peninsula, Bantry, County Cork
- Skellig Rocks, Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry
- Gap of Dunloe, Killarney, County Kerry
- Tory Island, County Donegal
- Achill Island, County Mayo
- Answering Stone, County Waterford
Italy
- Il Gargano, Vieste, Apulia
- Palmarola, Sicily
- Pietra di Bismantova, Reggiano Apennines
- Valle Seriana, Bergamo, Lombardy
- Golfo di Orosei, Cala Luna, Monte Tiscali, Sardinia
- Tarpeian Rock
Latvia
- Vidzeme
- Pusena Kalns, Bartava
Macedonia
Malta
Isle of Man
Norway
- Skude, Beiningen, Haugaland
- Geirangerfjord
- Preikestolen
- Kjerag
- Troll Wall
- Nigardsbreen, part of the larger glacier Jostedalsbreen
- Sommarøy, Tromsø
- Jutulhogget (Rondane)
Poland
- Cudgel of Hercules – monadrock in Ojców National Park
- Mnich
- Sloneczna
- Dolina Koscieliska, Western Tatras
- Dunajec Gorge, Zakopane
Portugal
Romania
- Apuseni Mountains: Detunatele
- Bucegi Mountains: Babele, The Sphinx
- Ciucaș Mountains: Porumbelul Bratocei, Colții Bratocei, Turnul Goliat, Babele la sfat, etc.
- Făgăraş Mountains: Fereastra zmeilor
- Hășmaș Mountains: Piatra singuratică
- Piatra Craiului Mountains: La zaplaz, Cerdacul Stanciului, Turnul/Degetul lui Anghelide
- Gorges: Bicaz Gorge, Turda Gorge, Danube's Iron Gate (includes Babacai Rock[3]), Cheile Dobrogei, Cheile Sohodolului, Cheile Doftanei (aka Brebului)
- Piatra Secuiului in Alba County
- Piatra Verde (or Muntele Verde) and the Salt Mountain in Slănic
- Râpa Roșie
Russia
- Monrepo Park, Vyborg, St. Petersburg
- Taganay National Park, Chelyabinsk
- Stolby National Park, Krasnoyarsk Krai[4]
- Kamen Shahtai, Lake Baikal
- Sail Rock, Krasnodar Krai
Serbia
- Đavolja Varoš (Devil's Town)[5]
- Prskalo waterfall, Kučaj mountains[6]
- Vratna Gates three natural stone bridges
- Đavoljev kamen near Trgovište
Spain
- Los Roques de Garcia, Tenerife Island, Canary Islands
- Las Canades, Tenerife Island, Canary Islands
- Ciudad Encantada, Castile-La Mancha
- Picuezo and Picueza, Autol, La Rioja
- Fuente de los Azulejos, Gran Canaria Island, Canary Islands
- El Torcal de Antequera and Peña de los Enamorados, Antequera, Andalusia, a World Heritages Sites
- Roque Nublo, Gran Canaria Island, Canary Islands
- Montserrat, Catalonia
- Roques de Benet, Ports de Beseit, Catalonia
- Los Callejones de Las Majadas, Serranía de Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha
- El Guerrero Romano, Sierra Carrascosa, Aragon
- Mallos de Riglos, Las Peñas de Riglos, Aragon
- Peña Bajenza in La Rioja
- Las Médulas, Province of León, site of Roman gold mines
- La Peña, Arcos de la Frontera, Andalusia
- Peñón de Ifach, Calpe, Valencian Community
Sweden
- The islands Gotland, Fårö and Öland has many coastal stretches with stack formations.
- Busten, Glaskogens Nature Reserve, Kalleboda
- Stegborgsgarden, Stegborg
- Stenhamra, Uppland
Switzerland
- Mount Pilatus
- Val dal Botsch
Slovakia
- Lehotské skaly, near Handlová
- Haligovské skaly, near Stará Ľubovňa
- Súľovské skaly (part of the Súľovské vrchy Mountains)
- Zelené Pleso Valley (in the High Tatras)
- Devin Castle, Devin
Ukraine
- Hoverla, Carpathian Mountains
- Nikita, Ukraine, Yalta
- Skaly Taraktasky, Crimea
- Karadag, Crimea
- Fiolent, Sevastopol
United Kingdom
Oceania
Australia
- The Three Sisters, Katoomba – Blue Mountains, New South Wales
- Devils Marbles, Northern Territory
- Kata Tjuta, also known as The Olgas, Northern Territory
- Rainbow Valley, Northern Territory
- Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, Northern Territory
- Murphys Haystacks, Nullarbor Desert, South Australia
- Remarkable Rocks, South Australia
- Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Victoria
- Mount Augustus, Western Australia
- Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park, Western Australia
- Wave Rock, Hyden, Western Australia
New Zealand
- Castle Hill Basin, Canterbury
- Koutu Boulders, Hokianga
- Māori Bay giant pillow lava, Muriwai
- Lion Rock, Piha
- Moeraki Boulders, Otago
- The Nuggets, Nugget Point, Otago
- Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
- Putangirua Pinnacles, Wairarapa
- Stony Batter, Waiheke Island
- Truman Track Beach, Punakaiki
- Horeke basalts, Hokianga
- Gog and Magog, southern Stewart Island/Rakiura
Other countries
- Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
- Talava Arches, Niue, South Pacific
See also
- Formation of rocks
- List of rock formations that resemble human beings
- List of rocks on Mars
- Rock cycle
References
- ^ Olumo Rock website
- ^ "Escalando el Gunko de Boquete" (in Spanish). El Chiricano. 2007-06-04.[permanent dead link]
- ^ [1], Wikimapia/www.banaterra.eu
- ^ Красноярские Столбы
- ^ The Djavolja Varos (Devil's Town) Natural Landmark, UNESCO World Heritage
- ^ "Vodopad Prskalo" (in Serbian). FreeBiking.org.
External links
Look up formation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rock formations.
