Here are some of the most remarkable and unusual rock formations around the world.
Totem Pole at Cape Hauy in Tasmania, Australia
Tasmania National Park is a popular rock climbing area famous for its igneous dolerite pillars. These rare hexagonal pillars were formed when the extruding magma cooled over a short span of time.
Edmaier’s Secret in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area, Arizona
The unusual rock formations in Edmaier’s Secret are slightly more resistant rocks that took a complex structure as the surrounding soft sandstone eroded. These rocks tend to be slightly darker in color than the surrounding sandstone, and are available in a great variety of shapes.
Giant’s Causeway in Ireland
The Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking hexagonal basalt pillars formed by an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. It takes its name after a giant called Fionn mac Cumhaill in Gaelic mythology. According to the myth, Fionn built the causeway across the North Channel after he was challenged into a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. So, the causeway kind of served as a path between Scotland and Ireland. Because of the fact that there are almost identical basalt columns across the sea at Fingal’s Cave, it is possible that the legend was inspired by this similarity.
Fingal’s Cave in Scotland
Devils Tower in Wyoming
Also known as Bear Lodge Butte, Devil’s Tower was the first national monument of the United States, established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. During the Paleocene Epoch (56 to 66 million years ago) magma rose through the crust and intruded into the existing sedimentary rock layers. As the magma cooled, the hexagonal columns were formed, and rain and snow exposed the Devil’s Tower by eroding the sedimentary rock through time.
