New Delhi: Standing before some of the greatest rock formations in the world, people have often wondered how they came to be. Some considered them to be the work of gods, while others attributed the marvellous creations to their ancestors. However, the formation of these curiously shaped rocks is much older and much more complicated than that. Many of these rocks, formed billions of years ago due to weathering and erosion, have created these cliffs, peaks, and gorges, attracting thousands of visitors yearly. Let us learn about some of Earth’s most fascinating geological formations.
9 natural rock formations in the world
Eye of the Sahara, Mauritania
Wave Rock, Australia
Princess of Hope, Pakistan
Elephant Rock, Iceland
Grand Canyon, USA
Seven Strong Men, Russia
Old Harry Rocks, England
Pamukkale, Türkiye
Eye of the Sahara, Mauritania
It was believed to be the gateway to the lost city of Atlantis. This geological dome in the Sahara desert comprises sedimentary rock layers and is shaped by wind and water erosion.
The colossal bullseye-like structure, called “the eye of the Richat” in the local Arabic language, has a diameter of 50 km and is even visible from outer space!
Wave Rock, Australia
Formed about 2.7 billion years ago, this smooth granite cliff is 110m high and 15 m wide. The monsoons reveal the red, brown, yellow, and grey stains of carbonates and iron hydroxide on the cliff face, eroding the granite and giving the rock its signature concave slope.
Princess of Hope, Pakistan
Appearing to be a young woman dressed in a long skirt gazing into the deep blue skies, this rock formation in Balochistan is soft and topped by several small, harder rocks that protect it from erosion. Estimated to be only 750 years old, Angelina Jolie was amazed by its sight and named it the Princess of Hope.
Elephant Rock, Iceland
Shaped by a volcanic eruption sometime in the last 15,000 years, this basalt rock appears like an elephant dipping its trunk in the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The Eldfell, an active volcano, caused severe damage to the rock in 1973, and it is believed that after the cooling efforts successfully concluded, the Elephant Rock was seen for the first time. Some also believe the formation does not look like an elephant but rather like a Cthulhu, a mythical sea monster created by horror writer HP Lovecraft.
Grand Canyon, USA
Arguably the most famous rock formation in the world, attracting millions of visitors yearly, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA, is made of 1.2 billion-year-old rock and stretches up to almost 450 km. Ancient fossils lighted it; it was formed by deposition, uplifting, downcutting, and erosion, which led to the incredible formation we see today.
Natural processes shaped some of the most intriguing rock formations in the world over billions of years. Read more to find out about these rocks and how they were formed. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
