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.
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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 crystallisation. They may be either plutonic bodies or volcanic extrusive. 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 incomplete list of rock formations by continent.
Asia
Armenia
China
- Yunmeng Mountain National Forest Park, Beijing
- Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
- Huangshan, Anhui Province
- Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Zhangjiajie, Hunan
Hong Kong
Jordan
India
- Jabalpur Marble Rocks, Madhya Pradesh
- Rock Formations in Rayalseema Andhra Pradesh, Hampi Karnataka
- Yana
Israel
- Rosh Hanikra
- Timna Arch, Eilat
- Karnei Hattin
Lebanon
- Cape Lithoprosopon
- Raouché, Beirut
Mongolia
- Turtle Rock, Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Töv Aimag/Nalaikh
Pakistan
- Rock formations at Hingol National Park
Thailand
- 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
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
- Al Naslaa rock formation, Saudi Arabia
- Long Ya Men, Singapore
- Seorak-san National Park, Sokcho, South Korea
- Yehliu, Taiwan
- Halong Bay, Vietnam
Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Wulingyuan
Candle Rock (Yoichi, Hokkaidō, Japan)
Paşabağı, Cappadocia Turkey
Punta Matagar rock formation in Banton, Romblon, Philippines
Africa
Kenya
- Tsavo Rocks
Libya
Madagascar
Mauritania
Namibia
Nigeria
- Olumo Rock, Abeokuta[1]
- Riyom Rock, Jos
- Zuma Rock, Abuja
South Africa
- Cedarberg Wilderness Area, Western Cape
- Kagga Kamma, Ceres, Western Cape
- Three Sisters (Northern Cape)
Domes de Fabedougou, Burkina Faso
Kola Gorge rock structures, Cameroon
Vingerklip at Ugab Valley in Namibia
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North America
United States
Canada
- Devil's Chair, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario
- Flowerpot Island, Georgian Bay, Ontario
- Sleeping Giant, 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
- Peggy's 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
Caribbean
- Ayo Rock Formations, Aruba
- Devil's Trail, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
- The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
- Coki Beach, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
- Pointe des Châteaux, Grande Terre, Guadeloupe
- Diamond Rock (Rocher du Diamant), Martinique
Mexico
- Sierra de Organos National Park, Sombrerete, Zacatecas
- Piedras Encimadas Valley, Zacatlán, Puebla
- Peña de Bernal, Bernal, Querétaro
- Copper Canyon, Chihuahua
- Los Arcos Rocks, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
- Hierve el Agua, San Lorenzo Albarradas
Central America
South America
Argentina
- Quebrada de Humahuaca, Humahuaca
- Ongamira Valley, Córdoba
- Ischigualasto, San Juan Province
- Monte Fitz Roy, El Chalten
Bolivia
- Dali's Desert, Potosi
- Valle de Las Rocas, Uyuni
- Canon de Duene
Brazil
- Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain), Rio de Janeiro
- Ponta Grossa, Paraná
- Pedra do Jacaré (Aligator Stone), São Paulo
- Dedo de Deus (God's Finger Rock), Serra dos Órgãos, Rio de Janeiro
- Pedra do Cão Sentado, Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro
- Pedra da Galinha Choca, Quixadá, Ceará
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
- Cerro de Arcos, Loja
- Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island, Galápagos Islands
Falkland Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
- La Piedra Pintada, Parque Congreso de Abril
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
Georgia
Germany
- List of rock formations in the Harz
- Battert Rocks, Baden-Baden, Black Forest
- Externsteine
- Falkenfelsen
- Lange Anna, Heligoland
- 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
- The thrown stones, Lazio
Latvia
- Vidzeme
- Pusena Kalns, Bartava
North 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)
- Trolltunga
Poland
- Cudgel of Hercules – monadrock in Ojców National Park
- Mnich
- Słoneczna
- Kościeliska Valley, Western Tatras
- Dunajec River 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
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- The Three Brothers, Busani, Buryatia
- Kamen Shahtai, Lake Baikal
- Kisilyakh Range, Yakutia, topped by kigilyakh formations
- Kisilyakh-Tas, Yakutia, topped by kigilyakh formations
- Kontalaksky Golets, Zabaykalsky Krai
- Kyun-Tas, Yakutia, topped by kigilyakh formations
- Lena Cheeks, Irkutsk Oblast
- Lena Pillars, Yakutia
- 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
- 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 have 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
- Cape 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, Catlins Coast, 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
- Moso's Footprint, Samoa
- Talava Arches, Niue, South Pacific
See also
- Formation of rocks – Process of rock formations
- List of individual rocks
- List of landforms
- 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 – Transitional concept of geologic time
References
External links
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