Our earth is full of surprises and covered with so many unique and mysterious landforms or rock formation. Let’s explore the most unique and strange rock formations around the world.
AL NASLAA ROCK FORMATION
This incredible pair of standing rocks of Al-Naslaa is located in Saudi Arabia and of course, it looks like a huge boulder cut in half with laser-like precision. It was first discovered in 1883 by Charles Huvor, the formation has encouraged debates amongst academics, alternative researchers, and tourists. Just look how straight that cut is! Many people believe that it is evidence of Ancient High Technology.
Both are precariously balancing side by side yet the stones don’t even touch. So, is this rock outcrop in the middle of Saudi Arabian desert evidence of Ancient High Technology? Is it even manmade? Or is it a natural geological wonder? Geologists think that it could be from a volcanic dike of a few weaker minerals that solidified there earlier before exposed to the surface. Or, it is able to be a vintage pressure crack that has been driven/pulled aside. Or, it may be an antique (minor) fault line. It displays a fantastic example of historic rock art and therefore, it is also archaeologically significant.
FAIRY CHIMNEYS ROCK FORMATION
Cappadocia’s famous ‘fairy chimneys’ in central Turkey, an unreal landscape of carved-out towering rock formations, elongated as far as 130 feet into the sky and change colour with every sunset. But how did these strange natural growths appear?
This majestic rock formation is one of the most popular destinations in Turkey. Millions of years ago ancient volcanic eruptions covered the region with thick ash, which later solidified into a soft rock called ‘tuff’. When the natural geomorphic forces like wind and water did their erosional work, only the harder elements were left behind to form the ‘fairy chimneys’ that can be seen today. This is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
ÁRBOL DE PIEDRA, BOLIVIA
Árbol de Piedra known as “stone tree” is an isolated long-standing rock formation in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in Bolivia. This 7-meter high rock formation basically, one kind of mushroom rock formed by strong wind eroding process in the sandy desert. This rock looks like a small tree and thus it was named as “Stone Tree”.
IMMORTAL BRIDGE, CHINA
On the top of Mount Tai in China, there is the so-called Immortal Bridge – which is a beautiful and remarkable arch formation. Actually, it is difficult to believe that this amazing bridge is formed naturally. The arch is made up of single giant rolling stones, which once fell between the rocks and remained stuck between them and was formed during the ice age, according to rough estimates of scientists. And it seems that the bridge can collapse at any time and fall into the valley. In reality, the stones have been in the unchanging position for several million years.
Local people believe that a man, who dares to cross the bridge, will gain immortality. They regard the Immortal Bridge as a symbol of rebirth and eternal life.
BALANCED ROCK, COLORADO
A huge sandstone boulder hangs dangerously near the roadway in Garden of the Gods Park near Colorado Springs. The park’s famous red rocks formed millions of years ago due to disruptions in the earth’s surface by erosion. The rock is a conglomerate of red, pink, and white sandstone and limestone. This 700 tons weight Rock rises 35 feet above its base.
Geologists call Balanced Rock an erosional residue, a formation that was not transported and deposited in place but instead was eroded from surrounding bedrock. Balanced Rock, like other riskily balancing rocks, is an incredible natural wonder that appears and ready to topple over at any time.
KJERAGBOLTEN, NORWAY
It is a boulder on the mountain Kjerag in Rogaland County, Norway. The rock itself is a 5-cubic-meter glacial deposit trapped in the mountain’s crevasse. It is a popular tourist destination and is accessible without any climbing equipment. However, it is hanging above a 984-meter (3,228 ft) deep valley.
Rogaland lies in a weak tectonic zone, allowing the river to dig into the surrounding sandstone mountain. During the several ice ages, Norway was completely covered in glaciers. Between the ice ages, the meltwater formed and reformed the valley up to 22 times. As the Norwegian Glacier melted, it was accompanied by a rebound in rock formations as the ice was removed. In this case, the rebound was faster than the rising sea level, which fixed the rock into its current position.
SPLIT APPLE ROCK, NEW ZEALAND
Split Apple Rock is a geological rock formation in Tasman Bay off the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. This granitic rock from the cretaceous era looks like an apple that has been cut in half. The crack to produce two sides of the ‘apple’ was a naturally occurring joint which commonly occurs in granite. These joints and cracks in granite are very weak and susceptible to weathering. According to traditional Maori mythology two gods breaking apart the rock to form its shape. It is a popular tourist attraction in the waters of the Tasman Sea.
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