Some rocks are “sculpted“ by natural superpowers, balancing in a pose that looks like they’re about to fall over for millions of years. The most incredible rocks in the world always attract geologists and tourists.
1. Kummakivi Rock, Finland
The 7m Kummakivi Rock in Finland, balanced on top of another rock. The bottom slab has a smooth, curved surface that sinks into the soil. Surprisingly, there is only a very small point of contact between the two rocks.
According to Finnish folklore, “Hissi”, a type of giant, laid these rocks. According to geologists, the retreat of the ice led to the creation of these rocks, about 12,000 years ago.
2. Basalt column, Canada
This 9m-long vertical columnar basalt overlooks the Gulf of St. Mary in Nova Scotia (Canada). To see this huge rock, one needs to go through a 2.5 km long trail and 235 steps of stairs. About 200 million years ago, during the Triassic, molten rock formed from deep within the Earth and spread across the surface.
Source: novascotia.com
This phenomenon split the supercontinent Pangea and opened up the Atlantic Ocean. As the hot lava cooled, weathering and erosion created many columnar basalt structures, like the one in the Gulf of St. Mary.
3. Sandstone, USA
This nearly 290-million-year-old, nearly 700-ton red sandstone is iconic to the Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs. Its formation began when the liquid form of sedimentary sandstone erupted from the Earth’s interior. In the Garden of the Gods, there are two rocks side by side. They create a natural, welcoming entrance to tourists.
Source: factsc.com
The durability of this stone has been tested by time, especially during earthquakes. The researchers took pictures of the rock and built 3D models that could simulate the earthquake with the shaking needed to topple it. The results show that high-intensity earthquakes are less frequent than previously estimated.
4. Idol, England
Brimham Rocks is an amazing assemblage of sandstone rocks in North Yorkshire, England. One of those rocks is Idol Rock, also known as “Druid’s Idol” or “Druid’s Writing Desk”, which is nearly 4.5m tall and weighs 200 tons. This massive structure sits on top of a small pyramidal base.
Source: factsc.com
For years, locals believed this masterpiece was carved by the ancient British. However, studies have proven that to be wrong. This is the result of nature.
5. Krishna’s Butterball, India
The giant rock 6m high and weighing about 250 tons stands on a 4m high base on a slippery hill, located in Tamil Nadu, India. It is part of the “Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram” which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name “Krishna’s Butterball” is derived from the Hindu God, Krishna. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna once stole butter from his mother’s vessel called “Handi”. The shape of this rock is quite similar to “Handi”.
Source: factsc.com
This balancing rock is also known as “Vaanirai Kal” in Tamil, and that means “Stone of the Gods”. The top back of the rock has been eroded. Interestingly, the rock still has a rounded shape from all angles except the top of the back. In the past, many kings tried to move the rock but failed.
6. Pinnacle Platform, USA
Pinnacle is a giant sandstone rock that rises above the surrounding terrain in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona. It is a popular destination and a favorite photo spot for tourists. About 27 million years ago, a huge volcanic eruption released a thick, hot white layer of ash.
It then cooled and solidified into a hard layer, creating a nearly 609m mass of black volcanic ash, with a high silica and pumice content. Slowly with erosion, those rocks transform into interesting shapes.
Source: factsc.com
7. The Arches Rock, USA
At 29m high and weighing 3,600 tons, the Arches is one of the most fascinating “sculptures” of Arches National Park. It is made up of two different rocks. The upper red rock is the Entrada sandstone, and the second rock is part of the Caramel system, made up of mudstone.
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Mudstone wears away much faster than sandstone. Geologists think that the softer base from the mudstone will disintegrate, and that this balanced rock may one day fall due to wear and tear. A similar incident happened in 1975 when a nearby rock known as the “Chip-Off-the-Old-Block” fell.
8. Chiremba Rock, Zimbabwe
The Chiremba rocks are giant blocks of granite lying on top of each other, forming interesting shapes. These rocks were classified as national monuments in 1994. According to the official website of the monument, these stones symbolize peace and stability of the national economy, depicted on the leaflets. old Zimbabwean currency.
Source: factsc.com
Billions of years ago, magma formed in the Earth’s crust and was forced to the surface. As it cools slowly and solidifies, it forms hard crystalline rocks, such as granite. The granite in Chiremba is known for its hardness, especially compared to sedimentary rocks such as sandstone or mudstone. Due to the significantly softer, the erosion process will continue, there is a high chance these stones will be worn away.
9. Golden Rock, Myanmar
Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, also known as “Golden Rock”, is a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site in Myanmar. The Golden Rock has a diameter of 25m, located on the edge of a hill 914m high; The temple is on a rock about 7m high. This huge rock is completely independent of the base, with a very small contact area with the base. The entire rock is inlaid with gold leaf to create an attractive and sacred look.
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A strong belief attached to this temple is that anyone who makes pilgrimage to this temple three times in a year will be blessed with prosperity, recognition and respect. According to one of the legends, only women can push the rock and throw it down. So, according to the regulations of the temple, no woman is allowed to touch that rock.
10. Haida Gwaii Rock, Canada
The rock at Haida Gwaii is right next to the ocean that has been attracting tourists for decades. The amazing thing is that the big waves have not yet been able to move the rock. Although there is no evidence, it may have been formed by glacial retreat.
Source: factsc.com
According to Dan Gibson, associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, the rock’s center of gravity is centered precisely on the point of contact with the underlying rock, creating a seemingly unbreakable bond. . Because that rock is so large and heavy, the mass of that rock and its center of gravity create such a high force of contact friction that it becomes a very stable and difficult object to move. Gravity simply “glues” it to the rock below.”
