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List of rock formations

(redirected from Rock formation)
"Rock formation" redirects here. For the process, see Formation of rocks.
Rocks formations and the Dedo de Deus (God's Finger) peak in the background, Serra dos Órgãos National Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil
Raouché or Pigeons' Rock in Beirut, Lebanon
Druid Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA
View of Meteora, Greece
Rock formations in Ongamira Valley, Sierras de Córdoba, Argentina
Belogradchik Rocks, Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria
"Jaws", an erosional fin in Little Finland, Nevada, USA
"Hajdučka vrata" on Čvrsnica, Herzegovina
Paklenica, Croatia
Hoodoos in Devil's Town, Serbia
Three Sisters in Blue Mountains, Australia

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:

Here is a list of rock formations by continent.

Asia

Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Wulingyuan
Candle Rock (Yoichi, Hokkaidō, Japan).
Paşabağı, Cappadocia/Turkey
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Punta Matagar rock formation in Banton, Romblon, Philippines
A rock formation at Apo Island in Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines

Armenia

  • Geghard
  • Garni Gorge
  • Goris
  • Khndzoresk
  • Satanayi Kamurj (Satan's Bridge)
  • Tegherivanc

China

Jordan

India

Iran

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

Israel

Japan

  • Yoich, kaidō

Lebanon

Mongolia

Philippines

Thailand

  • Grandfather and Grandmother stone, Ko Samui
  • 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
  • Goreme National Park
  • Narman Fairy Chimneys (aka the Land of the Red Fairies), Narman district of Eastern Anatolian province of Erzurum

Yemen

  • Wadi Dhar
  • Bani Al Harit, Sana'a

Other countries

Africa

Algeria

  • Tamanrasset
  • Tassili Mountains

Angola

  • Iona, Tombwa
  • Pedras Negras de Pungo Andongo

Burkina Faso

Domes de Fabedougou, Burkina Faso
  • Doumes de Fabedougou
  • Pic du Sindou

Cameroon

  • Kola Gorge, Cameroon
    Kola Gorge rock structures, Cameroon
    Kola Gorge

Egypt

  • Khaboba
  • Thebes
  • Esna shale
  • Nubian sandstone

Eritrea

  • Decemhare

Kenya

Libya

  • Akakus Mountains
  • Jebel Akhdar

Madagascar

Malawi

  • Makuzi Beach, Chintheche yui

Mali

  • Massif des Aguilles de Garmi

Mauritania

Morocco

  • Siroua Mountains
  • Tafraoute

Namibia

Vingerklip at Ugab Valley in Namibia (2014)
  • Waterberg Plateau
  • Bogenfels
  • Vingerklip, Damaraland

Niger

  • Geuzzam

Nigeria

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

Main article: Rock formations in the United States

List of Famous Rocks in United States

  • Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson
  • Grand Canyon

Canada

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

Central America

  • Bosque del Cabo, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
  • Los Ladrillos, Boquete, Panama[2]

South America

Argentina

Bolivia

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

Brazil

Chile

  • Valle de la Luna, Antofagasta
  • Playa de la Calabocillos, Constitucion
  • Silla del Diablo

Colombia

  • El Peñón de Guatapé (La Piedra de Peñol), Antioquia
  • Laguna de La Plaza, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy

Ecuador

Falkland Islands

  • Princes Street Stone Run

Paraguay

  • Amambay

Peru

Uruguay

  • La Piedra Pintada, Parque Congreso de Abril

Venezuela

Europe

Albania

Main article: List of rock formations in Albania

Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Hajdučka vrata, Čvrsnica mountain

Bulgaria

A view of the Wonderful Bridges, Bulgaria
Main article: Rock formations in Bulgaria

Croatia

Paklenica, Croatia
Bijele stijene (White Rocks) and Samarske stijene (Samar Rocks), Velika Kapela, 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

Estonia

Finland

France

Georgia

  • Katskhi Pillar

Germany

Greece

Meteora with Greek Orthodox monasteries

Gibraltar

The iconic Rock of Gibraltar
  • Rock of Gibraltar

Bailiwick of Guernsey

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Pietra di Bismantova, Italy

Latvia

  • Vidzeme
  • Pusena Kalns, Bartava

North Macedonia

Malta

Isle of Man

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

The collapsed Bride's Cave (Salt Mountain) from Slănic, 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

  • Kamen Shahtai, Lake Baikal
  • Kisilyakh Range, Yakutia, topped by kigilyakh formations
  • Kisilyakh-Tas, Yakutia, topped by kigilyakh formations
  • Kyun-Tas, Yakutia, topped by kigilyakh formations
  • Lena Plateau
  • Monrepo Park, Vyborg, St. Petersburg
  • Stolby National Park, Krasnoyarsk Krai[4]
  • Sail Rock, Krasnodar Krai
  • Taganay National Park, Chelyabinsk
  • Ulakhan-Sis, Yakutia, topped by kigilyakh formations

Serbia

Vratna Gates natural stone bridges in 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, Castilla–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

Gotická brána, Sulov rocks, 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

United Kingdom

Main article: Rock formations in the United Kingdom

Oceania

Australia

Uluru, Australia
Mount Augustus, Australia

New Zealand

Castle Hill, New Zealand
Main article: list of rock formations in New Zealand

Other countries

Talava arches, Niue

See also

  • Formation of rocks
  • List of rock formations that resemble human beings
  • List of rocks on Mars – Alphabetical list of named rocks and meteorites found on Mars
  • Rock cycle – Transitions through geologic time among the three main rock types: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous
  • Dwayne 'the Rock 'Johnson

References

  1. ^ "Olumo Rock - A Nigerian Tourist Destination". www.olumorock.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  2. ^ "Escalando el Gunko de Boquete" (in Spanish). El Chiricano. 2007-06-04.
  3. ^ "Stânca Babacai (de aici incepe Clisura de sus)". wikimapia.org. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  4. ^ "Красноярские Столбы". www.stolby.ru. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  5. ^ The Djavolja Varos (Devil's Town) Natural Landmark, UNESCO World Heritage
  6. ^ "Vodopad Prskalo" (in Serbian). FreeBiking.org.

External links

  • Media related to Rock formations at Wikimedia Commons
  • The dictionary definition of formation at Wiktionary
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