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Rock formations
Rock formations as used in this article refers to isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrops. These are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. Rock formation in general refers to specific sedimentary strata or other rock unit in stratigraphic and petrologic studies.
How rock formations are created
Geologists classify rocks into three types according to their origin. A rock structure can be created in any rock type or combination:-
Sedimentary rocks Erosion later exposes them in their current form. An example is Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah .
Metamorphic rocks Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota .
Igneous rocks intrusive bodies or volcanic extrusives. Again, erosive forces sculpt their current forms. An example is Iao Needle in Maui, Hawaii .
Geologists have created a number of terms to describe different rock structures in the landscape that can be formed by natural processes:-
Inselberg Inselberg is a German word that means "island mountain". Uluru /Ayers Rock in Australia is a noted example.
Lists of rock formations
The Olgas, Northern Territory , Australia
Twelve Apostles , Melbourne , Australia
Remarkable Rocks, Southern Australia
Wave Rock, Hyden, Western Australia
Murphy's Hay Stacks, Nullarbor Desert, Western Australia
Uluru , Northern Territory , Australia
Kata Tjuta ,Northern Territory , Australia
Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park, Western Australia
Devil's Marbles , Northern Territory , Australia
Truman Track Beach, Punakaiki, New Zealand
Castle Hill Basin, South Island , New Zealand
Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands , French Polynesia
Talava Arches, Niue , South Pacific
See also: Rock formations in Russia .
Yoichi, Hokkaido , Japan
Yeliu, Taiwan
Tanjong Bunga, Penang , Malaysia
Jabalpur Marble Rocks, Madhya Pradesh , India
Face Rock, Deccan , Hyderabad , India
Sitio Lugsangan, Barangay Tabon, Cebu , Philippines
Yun Meng Mountains, Beijing , China
Guilin , China
Grandfather and Grandmother stone, Ko Samui , Thailand
James Bond Island, Phang Nga , Thailand
Halong Bay , Vietnam
Seorak-san National Park, Sokcho , South Korea
Taichar Chuluu, Arkhangai Aimag, Mongolia
Terelj National Park, Gorkhi, Mongolia
Tanah Lot, Bali , Indonesia
Timna Arch, Eilat , Israel
Karnei Hittim, Israel
Pasabagi, Cappadocia , Turkey
Goreme National Park, Turkey
Tegherivank, Armenia
Geghard, Armenia
Petra , Amman , Jordan
Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan
Kuh-E-Namak, Iran
Elemite Rock, Fars , Iran
Mahneshan, Zanjan, Iran
Pigeon Rocks, Beirut , Lebanon
Sakhret-El-Rawsheh, Beirut , Lebanon
Gobustan, Azerbaijan
Aphrodite's Rock, Paphos , Cyprus
Wadi Dhar, Yemen
Bani Al Harit, Saana, Yemen
White Desert, Egypt
Tamanrasset, Algeria
Tassili Mountains, Algeria
Cedarberg Wilderness Area, Cape Town , South Africa
Kagga Kamma, Ceres, Western Cape , South Africa
Vingerklip, Damaraland, Namibia
Waterberg Plateau, Namibia
Motombo Rock Formations, Zimbabwe
Maleme Dam, Matobos, Zimbabwe
Domboshava Rocks, Zimbabwe
Geuzzam, Niger
Pic du Sindou, Burkina Faso
Doumes de Fabedougou, Burkina Faso
Andringitra, Madagascar
Isalo National Park, Madagascar
Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue, Seychelles
Riyom Rock, Jos, Nigeria
Olumo Rock, Abeokuta , Nigeria
Kamale Pinnacle, Mubi, Nigeria
Siroua Mountains, Morocco
Tafraoute, Morocco
Chebika Rock, Tunisia
Tamazrat, Tunisia
Kola Gorge, Cameroon
Benguela Province, Angola
Iona, Tombwa, Angola
Decemhare, Eritrea
Tsavo Rocks, Kenya
Makuzi Beach, Chintheche, Malawi
Massif des Aguilles de Garmi, Mali
Burget Tuyur, Selima, Sudan
Akakus Mountains, Libya
See Rock formations in the United States .
See Rock formations in Canada
Ayo Rock Formations, Aruba
Casibari Boulders, Aruba
Guajataca, Puerto Rico
Virgin Gorda Rocks, British Virgin Islands
Devil's Trail, Virgin Gorda , British Virgin Islands
Bath's Beach, Virgin Gorda , British Virgin Islands
Coki Beach, St. Thomas , United States Virgin Islands
Governor's Harbor, Eleuthera , Bahamas
Tent Bay, Barbados
Pointe des Chateaux, Grande Terre, Guadeloupe
Malendure Rock, Basse Terre, Guadeloupe
Diamond Rock, Torrens Point, Saba , Netherlands Antilles
Stonehaven Bay, Tobago
Piedras Encimidas Valley, Zacatlan, Mexico
Copper Canyon , Chihuahua , Mexico
Los Arcos Rocks, Cabo San Lucas , Mexico
Cerro de Arcos, Loja, Ecuador
Dali's Desert, Potosi , Bolivia
Valle de Las Rocas, Uyuni, Bolivia
Canon de Duene, Bolivia
Ponta Grossa, Brazil
Pedro do Jacare, São Paulo (state)São Paulo , Brazil
Valle de la Luna, Antofagasta , Chile
Playa de la Calabocillos, Constitucion, Chile
Bosque del Cabo, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island, Galapagos Islands
Quebrada de Humahuaca, Humahuaca Argentina
Ischigualasto, San Juan Province, Argentina
Cerro Fitz Roy, El Chalten, Argentina
Amambay, Paraguay
La Piedra Pintada, Parque Congreso de Abril, Uruguay
Colca Canyon, Arequipa , Peru
Tepui, Roraima, Canaima National Park, Venezuela
Piedras de San Martin, Ciudad de Coro, Venezuela
Piedra de Penol, Antioquia , Colombia
Laguna de La Plaza, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia
Brimham Rocks, Nidderdale, Yorkshire , England
Dovedale, Derbyshire , England
Cheesewring, Minions, Cornwall , England
Glen Maye, Isle of Man , England
Old Harry Rocks, Dorset , England
Durdle Door , Dorset , England
Elgol, Isle of Skye , Scotland
The Cobbler, Arrochar, Argyll and Bute , Scotland
Woolacombe Rocks, Mull , Scotland
Mew Slade, Wales
Solva, St. David's Head, Dyfed , Wales
Flat Holm , Bristol Channel , Wales
White Rocks Beach, Bushmills , Northern Ireland
Giant's Causeway , County Antrim , Northern Ireland
Beara Peninsula, Bantry , County Cork , Ireland
Skellig Rocks, Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry , Ireland
Others in Europe
Il Gargano, Vieste, Apulia , Italy
Palmarola, Sicily , Italy
Valle Seriana, Bergamo , Lombardy , Italy
Golfo di Orosei,Cala Luna, Monte Tiscali, Sardinia , Italy
Los Roques de Garcia, Tenerife , Canary Islands , Spain
Las Canades, Tenerife , Canary Islands , Spain
Ciudad Encantada, Cuenca , Spain
Autol, La Roja, Spain
Lists of rock formations by country
