9 most amazing geological formations on Earth
Ready to see some of the coolest geological formations? Planet Earth is filled with many unique landforms, and new geological discoveries are popping up every day. While this list could include many places, we've narrowed it down to 10 of the strangest geologic formations on Earth.
9 PHOTOS
1. Moeraki boulders - New Zealand.
These unusually large and spherical boulders lie on a stretch of Koekohe Beach on the New Zealand coast. Their origins have been the subject of many Maori legends, but scientifically they are the result of coastal erosion.
2. Giant's Causeway - Northern Ireland.
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interconnected basalt columns created by the eruption of an ancient volcano. The tops of the columns form steps leading from the base of the cliff and disappearing under the water. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
3. Lake Mono - California.
Lake Mono is a large, shallow lake with no ocean access. The lack of an outlet leads to the accumulation of a large amount of salt. Although its high alkalinity is unsuitable for fish, it still has an unusually productive ecosystem. The shrimp that live in its waters serve as food for the two million migratory birds that nest there every year.
4. Gibson Step (Twelve Apostles) - Great Ocean Road, Australia.
The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone mounds off the coast of Port Campbell National Park, off Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. They were formed due to the harsh weather of the Southern Ocean, gradually eroding soft limestone, as a result of which caves formed in the rocks, which then turned into arches, which, in turn, collapsed, leaving rocks up to 45 meters high.
5. Door to hell - Turkmenistan.
Door to Hell - Natural Gas Field in Derwez, Turkmenistan. It is known for its natural gas fire, which has burned continuously since it was lit by Soviet petrochemical scientists in 1971. Fueled by the region's rich natural gas deposits, the pungent smell of burning sulfur permeates it from a distance.
6. Chocolate Hills - Philippines.
The Chocolate Hills is a geological formation in the Bohol province of the Philippines. At least 1,260 hills are spread over an area of over 50 square kilometers. They are covered with green grass, which turns brown (like chocolate) in the dry season, hence the name.
7. Stone forest - China.
The Stone Forest is a notable group of limestone formations in the Chinese province of Yunnan. Tall cliffs seem to emanate from the ground, resembling stalagmites, many of which look like petrified trees, giving the illusion of a stone forest.
8. Fabulous chimneys - Turkey.
The hoodoo, also known as the fairy chimney, is a tall slender stone spire protruding from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badlands. Hoodoos are widespread in the historical region of Cappadocia in Turkey.
9. Wave - Arizona.
The Wave is a sandstone rock formation located near the Arizona-Utah border on the Colorado Plateau. It is known among tourists and photographers for its colorful undulating shapes and the rugged road required to reach it.
Keywords: Travel | World | Landscape | Beauty | Geology | Unique landforms | Interesting places | Earth | Nature