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.

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, US
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, US
"Hajdučka vrata" on Čvrsnica, Herzegovina
Paklenica, Croatia
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 crystallisation. They may be either plutonic bodies or volcanic extrusive. 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 incomplete list of rock formations by continent.

Asia

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Armenia

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China

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Hong Kong

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Jordan

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India

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Israel

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Lebanon

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Mongolia

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Pakistan

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Thailand

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Turkey

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Other countries

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Africa

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Kenya

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Libya

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Madagascar

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Mauritania

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Namibia

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Nigeria

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South Africa

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North America

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United States

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Canada

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Caribbean

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Mexico

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Central America

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

South America

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Argentina

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Bolivia

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

Brazil

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Chile

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Colombia

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Ecuador

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Falkland Islands

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Paraguay

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Peru

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Uruguay

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Venezuela

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Europe

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Albania

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Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Bulgaria

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A view of the Wonderful Bridges, Bulgaria

Croatia

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Paklenica, Croatia

Czech Republic

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Denmark

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Estonia

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Finland

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France

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Georgia

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Lange Anna

Germany

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Meteora with Greek Orthodox monasteries

Greece

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Gibraltar

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The iconic Rock of Gibraltar

Bailiwick of Guernsey

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Iceland

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Ireland

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Italy

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Pietra di Bismantova, Italy

Latvia

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  • Vidzeme
  • Pusena Kalns, Bartava

North Macedonia

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Malta

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Isle of Man

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Norway

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Poland

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Portugal

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Romania

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

Russia

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Kigilyakhs in the Ulakhan-Sis Range.

Serbia

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Vratna Gates natural stone bridges in Serbia

Spain

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Sweden

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Switzerland

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Slovakia

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Gotická brána, Sulov rocks, Slovakia

Ukraine

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United Kingdom

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Oceania

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Talava arches, Niue

Australia

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Uluru, Australia

New Zealand

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Castle Hill, New Zealand

Other countries

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See also

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References

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  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.[permanent dead link]
  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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