Eight Of The World’s Most Incredible Rock Formations

12 Apostles, Australia

Scattered along the scenic Great Ocean Road in Australia, the 12 Apostles formation is the result of the Southern Ocean’s harsh weather conditions eroding the existing landscape. Beginning 10 to 20 million years ago, the constant erosion of the limestone cliffs caused caves to form within them. These caves eventually became arches and ultimately collapsed into the isolated stacks of rock seen today.

Arches National Park, USA

Created from 300 million year old salt bed deposits, Arches National Park in Utah is home to over 2,000 beautifully crafted arches. As the salt beds shifted over the years, the superior rock layers began to create domes that were further molded by rain, ice and wind. The result? The magnificent arches you see today.

Stone Forest, China

The Stone Forest in China is an amazing sea of towering stone pinnacles that are believed to be over 270 million years old. Some speculate that the area was once an ocean floor and that today’s stone structures are actually the rocky results of millions of years of flowing water.

White Desert, Egypt

Situated north of the Farafra Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt, the White Desert is populated with chalk rock formations that have formed following occasional sandstorms.

Three Rondavels, South Africa

Located in Blyde Canyon in South Africa, the Three Rondavels are named for their resemblance to the rondavels — or huts — of Africa. Over time the harder and superficial rock layers eroded more slowly than the underlying softer layers, which resulted in this unique South African rock formation. As a fun piece of trivia, the Three Rondavels are thought to have inspired the setting in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

Devils Tower, USA

Also known as Bears Lodge, Devils Tower is America’s first national monument and a sacred site to many Native Americans. Devil’s Tower was formed approximately 60 million years ago during a volcanic eruption, when the molten lava released during the eruption eventually cooled and soon shaped the basalt columns.

Queen’s Head, Taiwan

Located in Yehlia Geopark, Taiwan, the Queen’s Head is a curious stone monument that has been sculpted by wind and sea erosion. However, the Queen’s Head is only one of the many uniquely shaped (and named) stone moments in the region, with others including the Fairy’s Shoe, Candle, Stone Heart, Bean Curd, and the Dragon Head.

Mesa Arch, USA

Calling Utah’s Canyonlands National Park home, Mesa Arch is a stone’s throw away from The Arches National Park (pun intended). The arch is located right on the rim of a plateau and beautifully frames the canyon landscape below it.