List of rock formations

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.

"Rock formation" redirects here. For the process, see Formation of rocks.
Rocks formations and the Dedo de Deus (God's Finger) peak in the background, Serra dos Órgãos National Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil
Raouché or Pigeons' Rock in Beirut, Lebanon
Druid Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA
View of Meteora, Greece
Rock formations in Ongamira Valley, Sierras de Córdoba, Argentina
Belogradchik Rocks, Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria
"Jaws", an erosional fin in Little Finland, Nevada, USA
"Hajdučka vrata" on Čvrsnica, Herzegovina
Paklenica, Croatia
Hoodoos in Devil's Town, Serbia
Three Sisters in Blue Mountains, Australia

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 crystallization. They may be either plutonic bodies or volcanic extrusives. 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 list of rock formations by continent.

Asia
Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Wulingyuan
Candle Rock (Yoichi, Hokkaidō, Japan).
Paşabağı, Cappadocia/Turkey
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Punta Matagar rock formation in Banton, Romblon, Philippines
A rock formation at Apo Island in Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines

Armenia

China

Jordan

India

Iran
  • Kuh-E-Namak
  • Elemite Rock, Fars
  • Mahneshan, Zanjan

Israel

Japan

Lebanon

Mongolia

Philippines

Thailand

Turkey
  • Paşabağı, Cappadocia
  • Goreme National Park
  • Narman Fairy Chimneys (aka the Land of the Red Fairies), Narman district of Eastern Anatolian province of Erzurum

Yemen
  • Wadi Dhar
  • Bani Al Harit, Sana'a

Other countries

Africa

Algeria
  • Tamanrasset
  • Tassili Mountains

Angola
  • Iona, Tombwa
  • Pedras Negras de Pungo Andongo

Burkina Faso
Domes de Fabedougou, Burkina Faso
  • Doumes de Fabedougou
  • Pic du Sindou

Cameroon
  • Kola Gorge, Cameroon
    Kola Gorge rock structures, Cameroon
    Kola Gorge

Egypt
  • Khaboba
  • Thebes
  • Esna shale
  • Nubian sandstone

Eritrea
  • Decemhare

Kenya

Libya

Madagascar

Malawi
  • Makuzi Beach, Chintheche yui

Mali
  • Massif des Aguilles de Garmi

Mauritania

Morocco
  • Siroua Mountains
  • Tafraoute

Namibia
Vingerklip at Ugab Valley in Namibia (2014)
  • Waterberg Plateau
  • Bogenfels
  • Vingerklip, Damaraland

Niger
  • Geuzzam

Nigeria

Seychelles
  • Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue

South Africa

Sudan
  • Burget Tuyur, Selima

Tunisia
  • Chebika Rock
  • Tamazrat

Zimbabwe
  • Domboshava Rocks
  • Maleme Dam, Matobos
  • Motombo Rock Formations

North America

United States

List of Famous Rocks in United States

Canada

Caribbean

Mexico

Central America
  • Bosque del Cabo, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
  • Los Ladrillos, Boquete, Panama[2]

South America

Argentina

Bolivia
  • Dali's Desert, Potosi
  • Valle de Las Rocas, Uyuni
  • Canon de Duene

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

Falkland Islands

Paraguay

Peru

Uruguay
  • La Piedra Pintada, Parque Congreso de Abril

Venezuela

Europe

Albania
Main article: List of rock formations in Albania

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria
A view of the Wonderful Bridges, Bulgaria

Croatia
Paklenica, Croatia
Bijele stijene (White Rocks) and Samarske stijene (Samar Rocks), Velika Kapela, Croatia

Czech Republic
  • Teplice nad Metují
  • Medvědí Stezka (Bear's path), Šumava mountains, Klatovy
  • Vraní skála, Brdy
  • Suché skály, Turnov
  • Hruboskalsko

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Greece
Meteora with Greek Orthodox monasteries

Gibraltar
The iconic Rock of Gibraltar

Bailiwick of Guernsey

Iceland

Ireland

Italy
Pietra di Bismantova, Italy

Latvia
  • Vidzeme
  • Pusena Kalns, Bartava

North Macedonia

Malta

Isle of Man

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania
The collapsed Bride's Cave (Salt Mountain) from Slănic, Romania

Russia

Serbia
Vratna Gates natural stone bridges in Serbia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Slovakia
Gotická brána, Sulov rocks, Slovakia

Ukraine

Oceania

Australia
Uluru, Australia
Mount Augustus, Australia

New Zealand
Castle Hill, New Zealand

Other countries
Talava arches, Niue

See also

References
  1. "Olumo Rock - A Nigerian Tourist Destination". www.olumorock.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  2. "Escalando el Gunko de Boquete" (in Spanish). El Chiricano. 2007-06-04.
  3. "Stânca Babacai (de aici incepe Clisura de sus)". wikimapia.org. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  4. "Красноярские Столбы". www.stolby.ru. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  5. The Djavolja Varos (Devil's Town) Natural Landmark, UNESCO World Heritage
  6. "Vodopad Prskalo" (in Serbian). FreeBiking.org.
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