Monolith

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For other uses, see Monolith (disambiguation).
Uluru in central Australia is often referred to as the biggest monolith, although this is generally avoided by geologists; while the surrounding rocks were eroded, the rock survived as sandstone strata making up the surviving Uluru 'monolith'.
File:Monolithos 1.jpg
Monolithos fortress on Rhodes
Landsat 7 image Brandberg Massif, Namibia

A monolith is a geological feature consisting of a single massive stone or rock, such as some mountains, or a single large piece of rock placed as, or within, a monument or building. Erosion usually exposes the geological formations, which are often made of very hard and solid metamorphic or igneous rock.

In architecture, the term has considerable overlap with megalith, which is normally used for prehistory, and may be used in the contexts of rock-cut architecture that remains attached to solid rock, as in monolithic church, or for exceptionally large stones such as obelisks, statues, monolithic columns or large architraves, that may have been moved a considerable distance after quarrying. It may also be used of large glacial erratics moved by natural forces.

The word derives, via the Latin monolithus, from the Ancient Greek word μονόλιθος (monolithos), from μόνος ("one" or "single") and λίθος ("stone").

Geological monoliths

Large, well-known monoliths include:

Africa

Antarctica

Asia

File:Savandurga.jpg
Savandurga, India from the northern side
File:Sanglahill.JPG
Sangla Hill, Pakistan

Australia

Europe

File:Peñon de Ifach-2009.jpg
Penyal d'Ifac, Spain

North America

United States

Beacon Rock, Washington viewed from the west
File:Stawamus sharp.jpg
Stawamus Chief as seen from Valleycliffe neighborhood in Squamish, British Columbia

Canada

Mexico

South America

File:Elpenolantioquia.JPG
El Peñón, monolith in Colombia, located in Antioquia.

Extraterrestrial

Monumental monoliths

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See also: List of ancient architectural records, List of ancient monoliths, and List of largest monoliths in the world

A structure which has been excavated as a unit from a surrounding matrix or outcropping of rock.[5]

See also

Notes

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External links

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