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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

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.

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:

• Butte


• Crag


• Escarpment


• Gorge


• 
  Inselberg, or monadnock, is a residual relief feature. It can be an isolated hill, a knob, ridge or small mountain that rises abruptly, like an island, from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. Inselberg is a German word that means "island mountain". Uluru/Ayers Rock in Australia is a noted example.


• Mesa


• Peak


• 
  Promontory is a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water.


• River cliff


• Sea cliff


• Stack


• Stone run


• Tor

Here is a list of rock formations by continent.

Asia

Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in Wulingyuan

Candle Rock (Yoichi, Hokkaidō, Japan).

Rock formations at Hyderabad).

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

• Tegherivank, Armenia
  


• 
  Geghard, Armenia

China

• Yun Meng Mountains, Beijing, China


• 
  Guilin, China


• 
  Amah Rock, Hong Kong


• 
  Lion Rock, New Kowloon/New Territories, Hong Kong


• 
  Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Zhangjiajie, China

Jordan

• 
  Petra, Amman, Jordan
  


• 
  Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan

India

• 
  Jabalpur Marble Rocks, Madhya Pradesh, India


• Face Rock, Deccan, Hyderabad, India


• Yana, India

Iran

• Kuh-E-Namak, Iran
  


• Elemite Rock, Fars, Iran


• Mahneshan, Zanjan, Iran

Israel

• 
  Rosh Hanikra, Israel
  


• Timna Arch, Eilat, Israel


• 
  Karnei Hattin, Israel


• Maarat Keshet, Israel


• Masada, Israel

Japan

• Yoichi, Hokkaidō, Japan

Lebanon

• Cape Lithoprosopon, Lebanon
  


• 
  Raouché, Beirut, Lebanon

Mongolia

• 
  Taikhar Chuluu, Arkhangai Aimag, Mongolia
  


• Turtle Rock, Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Töv Aimag/Nalaikh, Mongolia

Philippines

• Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Burgos, Ilocos Norte
  


• Punta Matagar, Banton, Romblon
  


• Marabut Rock Formations, Marabut, Samar
  


• Biri Island Rock Formation, Biri, Northern Samar
  


• Nakabuang Arc, Sabtang, Batanes
  


• Alapad Rock, Batan, Batanes
  


• Apo Island Rock Formation, Dauin, Negros Oriental
  


• Boto ni Kurakog, Bagamanoc, Catanduanes
  


• Lugsangan Rock Formation, Dalaguete, Cebu
  

Thailand

• Grandfather and Grandmother stone, Ko Samui, Thailand
  


• James Bond Island, Phang Nga
  


• 
  Lalu (ละลุ), rock formations caused by erosion at the eastern end of the Sankamphaeng Range in Sa Kaeo Province
  


• 
  Phae Mueang Phi ("Ghost Canyon") near Phrae in the Phi Pan Nam Range
  


• 
  Phu Phra Bat Buabok in Udon Thani Province
  

Turkey

• Paşabağı, Cappadocia, Turkey


• 
  Goreme National Park, Turkey


• Narman Fairy Chimneys (aka the Land of the Red Fairies), Narman district of Eastern Anatolian province of Erzurum, Turkey

Yemen

• Wadi Dhar, Yemen
  


• Bani Al Harit, Sana'a, Yemen

Other countries

• 
  Gobustan National Park, Azerbaijan
  


• 
  Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, Mon State, Burma
  


• 
  Aphrodite's Rock, Paphos, Cyprus
  


• 
  Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia
  


• 
  Jeti-Ögüz, Jeti-Ögüz district, Kyrgyzstan
  


• Tanjong Bunga, Penang, Malaysia
  


• 
  Long Ya Men, Singapore
  


• 
  Seorak-san National Park, Sokcho, South Korea
  


• 
  Yehliu, Taiwan
  


• 
  Halong Bay, Vietnam
  

Africa

Algeria

• Tamanrasset


• Tassili Mountains

Angola

• Iona, Tombwa

Burkina Faso

Domes de Fabedougou, Burkina Faso.

• Doumes de Fabedougou


• Pic du Sindou

Cameroon

• Kola Gorge

Egypt

• Khaboba


• Thebes


• Esna shale


• Nubian sand stone

Eritrea

• Decemhare

Kenya

• 
  Tsavo Rocks

Libya

• Akakus Mountains


• Jebel Akhdar

Madagascar

• Andringitra Massif


• Isalo National Park


• Tsingy d'Ankarana


• Tsingy de Bemaraha


• Tsingy de Namoroka


• Tsingy Rouge

Malawi

• Makuzi Beach, Chintheche yui

Mali

• Massif des Aguilles de Garmi

Mauritania

• Ben Amera

Morocco

• Siroua Mountains


• Tafraoute

Namibia

Vingerklip at Ugab Valley in Namibia (2014)

• Bogenfels


• Vingerklip, Damaraland


• Waterberg Plateau

Niger

• Geuzzam

Nigeria

• 
  Olumo Rock, Abeokuta^[1]
  


• 
  Riyom Rock, Jos


• 
  Zuma Rock, Abuja

Seychelles

• Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue

South Africa

• 
  Cedarberg Wilderness Area, Western Cape


• 
  Kagga Kamma, Ceres, Western Cape


• Three Sisters (Northern Cape)

Sudan

• Burget Tuyur, Selima

Tunisia

• Chebika Rock


• Tamazrat

Zimbabwe

• Domboshava Rocks


• Maleme Dam, Matobos


• Motombo Rock Formations

North America

United States of America

Canada

• 
  Devil's Chair, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario
  


• 
  Flowerpot Island, Georgian Bay, Ontario
  


• 
  Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick
  


• 
  Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick


• 
  Gabriola Island, British Columbia
  


• 
  Brady's Beach, Bamfield, British Columbia


• 
  Chimney Rock, Marble Canyon, British Columbia


• 
  Heron Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia


• 
  Siwash Rock, Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia


• 
  Percé Rock, Gaspé, Quebec
  


• 
  Tete d'Indien, Perce, Gaspé, Quebec


• 
  Balancing Rock, Long Island, Nova Scotia
  


• 
  Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia


• 
  Banff National Park, Alberta
  


• 
  Big Rock, Okotoks, Alberta


• 
  Drumheller, Alberta


• 
  Walsh, Alberta, see Medicine Hat, Alberta


• 
  Main Topsail Hill, near Gaff Topsails, Newfoundland and Labrador
  


• 
  Arches, St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador


• 
  Elephant Rock, Prince Edward Island
  


• 
  Giant's Chair, Howard's Cove, Prince Edward Island


• 
  Victoria Rock, Yukon
  


• 
  Sleeping Giant, Ontario

Caribbean

• 
  Ayo Rock Formations, Aruba
  


• Casibari Boulders, Aruba


• Guajataca, Puerto Rico
  


• Devil's Trail, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
  


• 
  The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands


• 
  Coki Beach, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
  


• Governor's Harbor, Eleuthera, Bahamas
  


• Ile a Vache, Cayes, Haiti
  


• Tent Bay, Barbados
  


• 
  Pointe des Châteaux, Grande Terre, Guadeloupe
  


• Malendure Rock, Basse Terre, Guadeloupe


• Diamond Rock, Torrens Point, Saba, Netherlands Antilles
  


• 
  Diamond Rock (Rocher du Diamant), Martinique
  


• Stonehaven Bay, Tobago
  


• Sandy Beach, Saint Lucia
  


• Las Cuevas Bay Trinidad
  

Mexico

• 
  Piedras Encimadas Valley, Zacatlán, Puebla, Mexico
  


• 
  Peña de Bernal, Bernal Mexico


• 
  Copper Canyon, Chihuahua, Mexico


• 
  Los Arcos Rocks, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico


• 
  Hierve el Agua, San Lorenzo Albarradas, Mexico

Central America

• Bosque del Cabo, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
  


• Los Ladrillos, Boquete, Panama^[2]
  

South America

Argentina

• 
  Quebrada de Humahuaca, Humahuaca


• Ongamira Valley, Córdoba, Argentina
  


• 
  Ischigualasto, San Juan Province, Argentina


• 
  Monte Fitz Roy, El Chalten, Argentina CA

Bolivia

• Dali's Desert, Potosi
  


• Valle de Las Rocas, Uyuni


• Canon de Duene

Brazil

• Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil


• Ponta Grossa, Brazil


• Pedro do Jacare, São Paulo, Brazil


• Dedo de Deus (God's Finger Rock), Serra dos Órgãos, Brazil


• Pedra do Cão Sentado, Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil


• 
  Pedra da Galinha Choca, Quixadá, Ceará, Brazil

Chile

• Valle de la Luna, Antofagasta, Chile
  


• Playa de la Calabocillos, Constitucion, Chile


• 
  Silla del Diablo, Chile

Colombia

• 
  El Peñón de Guatapé (La Piedra de Peñol), Antioquia, Colombia
  


• Laguna de La Plaza, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia

Ecuador

• 
  Cerro de Arcos, Loja, Ecuador
  


• Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island, Galápagos Islands
  

Falkland Islands

• Princes Street Stone Run

Paraguay

• Amambay

Peru

• 
  Colca Canyon, Arequipa
  

Uruguay

• 
  La Piedra Pintada, Parque Congreso de Abril
  

Venezuela

• Tepui, Roraima, Canaima National Park
  


• Piedras de San Martin, La Vela de Coro, Estado Falcón
  

Europe

Albania

• List of rock formations in Albania

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• 
  Hajdučka vrata, Čvrsnica mountain

Bulgaria

A view of the Wonderful, Bulgaria

• 
  Basarbovo Monastery, Rousse
  


• Belogradchik Rocks


• 
  Iskar Gorge, Sofia
  


• 
  Melnik Earth Pyramids, Melnik,


• Sozopol


• Wonderful Bridges


• 
  Golden Bridges (‘Zlatnite Mostove’), Vitosha
  


• 
  Golyamata Gramada (‘Big Pile’), Vitosha
  


• Pobiti Kamani

Croatia

Paklenica, Croatia

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

• Paklenica


• Bijele stijene (White Rocks) and Samarske stijene (Samar Rocks), Velika Kapela mountain

Czech Republic

• Teplice nad Metují


• 
  Medvědí Stezka (Bear's path), Šumava mountains, Klatovy


• 
  Vraní skála, Brdy


• 
  Suché skály, Turnov


• Hruboskalsko

Denmark

• Bornholm


• Fur Formation


• 
  Møns Klint, Møn
  


• 
  Gedser Odde, Gedser


• 
  Stevns Klint, Eastern Zealand
  


• 
  Cliffs of Sangstrup, Djursland
  

Estonia

• 
  Vormsi island

Finland

• Närpes


• Naantali

France

• Roussillon, Vaucluse


• 
  Lesconil, Brittany
  


• 
  Les Calanche, Corsica
  


• 
  Rocher des Doms, Avignon
  


• 
  Étretat, Normandy
  


• 
  Cassis, near Marseille, Provence
  

Georgia

• Katskhi Pillar

Germany

• List of rock formations in the Harz


• Externsteine


• Falkenfelsen


• 
  Rotenfels, Nahe, Bad Münster am Stein-Ebernburg, Rhineland-Palatinate
  


• 
  Teufelsturm, Elbe Sandstone Mountains
  


• Wasgau

Greece

Meteora with Greek Orthodox monasteries

• Meteora


• Monemvasia


• 
  Samaria Gorge, Crete
  


• Sarti, Sithonia
  

Gibraltar

The iconic Rock of Gibraltar

• Rock of Gibraltar

Bailiwick of Guernsey

• Les Autelets, Sark, Channel Islands
  


• Telegraph Bay, Alderney, Channel Islands

Iceland

• Vestmannaeyjar


• 
  Jokulsa Canyon National Park, Mývatn
  


• 
  Dimmuborgir, Mývatn


• Dyrhólaey


• 
  Eystrahorn, Hvalnes

Ireland

• 
  Beara Peninsula, Bantry, County Cork
  


• Skellig Rocks, Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry
  


• 
  Gap of Dunloe, Killarney, County Kerry
  


• 
  Tory Island, County Donegal
  


• 
  Achill Island, County Mayo
  


• 
  Answering Stone, County Waterford
  

Italy

Pietra di Bismantova

• Il Gargano, Vieste, Apulia
  


• Palmarola, Sicily
  


• 
  Pietra di Bismantova, Reggiano Apennines
  


• Valle Seriana, Bergamo, Lombardy
  


• Golfo di Orosei, Cala Luna, Monte Tiscali, Sardinia
  


• Tarpeian Rock

Latvia

• Vidzeme


• Pusena Kalns, Bartava

Macedonia

• Stone town of Kuklica


• Markovi Kuli

Malta

• Dwerja, Gozo
  


• Dingli Cliffs, Dingli
  

Isle of Man

• 
  Glen Maye, Isle of Man
  

Norway

• Skude, Beiningen, Haugaland
  


• Geirangerfjord


• Preikestolen


• Kjerag


• Troll Wall


• Nigardsbreen, part of the larger glacier Jostedalsbreen
  


• 
  Sommarøy, Tromsø
  


• Jutulhogget (Rondane)

Poland

• 
  Cudgel of Hercules – monadrock in Ojców National Park
  


• Mnich


• Sloneczna


• Dolina Koscieliska, Western Tatras
  


• Dunajec Gorge, Zakopane
  

Portugal

• Ponta da Piedade, Lagos, Algarve
  


• Albufeira


• Porto Moniz, Madeira
  


• Ponta de Sao Lourenco, Madeira

Romania

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

• 
  Apuseni Mountains: Detunatele
  


• 
  Bucegi Mountains: Babele, The Sphinx
  


• 
  Ciucaș Mountains: Porumbelul Bratocei, Colții Bratocei, Turnul Goliat, Babele la sfat, etc.


• 
  Făgăraş Mountains: Fereastra zmeilor
  


• 
  Hășmaș Mountains: Piatra singuratică
  


• 
  Piatra Craiului Mountains: La zaplaz, Cerdacul Stanciului, Turnul/Degetul lui Anghelide
  


• Gorges: Bicaz Gorge, Turda Gorge, Danube's Iron Gate (includes Babacai Rock^[3]), Cheile Dobrogei, Cheile Sohodolului, Cheile Doftanei (aka Brebului)
  


• 
  Piatra Secuiului in Alba County


• 
  Piatra Verde (or Muntele Verde) and the Salt Mountain in Slănic
  


• Râpa Roșie

Russia

• 
  Monrepo Park, Vyborg, St. Petersburg
  


• 
  Taganay National Park, Chelyabinsk
  


• 
  Stolby National Park, Krasnoyarsk Krai^[4]
  


• Kamen Shahtai, Lake Baikal
  


• 
  Sail Rock, Krasnodar Krai
  

Serbia

Vratna Gates natural stone bridges in Serbia

• 
  Đavolja Varoš (Devil's Town)^[5]
  


• 
  Prskalo waterfall, Kučaj mountains^[6]
  


• 
  Vratna Gates three natural stone bridges


• Đavoljev kamen near Trgovište
  

Spain

• Los Roques de Garcia, Tenerife Island, Canary Islands


• Las Canades, Tenerife Island, Canary Islands


• 
  Ciudad Encantada, Castile-La Mancha


• Picuezo and Picueza, Autol, La Rioja


• 
  Fuente de los Azulejos, Gran Canaria Island, Canary Islands


• 
  El Torcal de Antequera and Peña de los Enamorados, Antequera, Andalusia, a World Heritages Sites


• 
  Roque Nublo, Gran Canaria Island, Canary Islands
  


• 
  Montserrat, Catalonia


• 
  Roques de Benet, Ports de Beseit, Catalonia


• Los Callejones de Las Majadas, Serranía de Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha


• El Guerrero Romano, Sierra Carrascosa, Aragon


• 
  Mallos de Riglos, Las Peñas de Riglos, Aragon


• 
  Peña Bajenza in La Rioja


• 
  Las Médulas, Province of León, site of Roman gold mines


• La Peña, Arcos de la Frontera, Andalusia


• 
  Peñón de Ifach, Calpe, Valencian Community
  

Sweden

• The islands Gotland, Fårö and Öland has many coastal stretches with stack formations.


• Busten, Glaskogens Nature Reserve, Kalleboda


• Stegborgsgarden, Stegborg


• Stenhamra, Uppland
  

Switzerland

• Mount Pilatus


• Val dal Botsch

Slovakia

Gotická brána, Sulov rocks / Slovakia

• 
  Lehotské skaly, near Handlová
  


• 
  Haligovské skaly, near Stará Ľubovňa
  


• 
  Súľovské skaly (part of the Súľovské vrchy Mountains)


• 
  Zelené Pleso Valley (in the High Tatras)


• 
  Devin Castle, Devin
  

Ukraine

• 
  Hoverla, Carpathian Mountains


• 
  Nikita, Ukraine, Yalta


• Skaly Taraktasky, Crimea
  


• Karadag, Crimea


• Fiolent, Sevastopol
  

United Kingdom

Uluru, Australia

Oceania

Australia

Mount Augustus, Australia

• 
  The Three Sisters, Katoomba – Blue Mountains, New South Wales
  


• 
  Devils Marbles, Northern Territory
  


• 
  Kata Tjuta, also known as The Olgas, Northern Territory


• 
  Rainbow Valley, Northern Territory


• 
  Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, Northern Territory


• 
  Murphys Haystacks, Nullarbor Desert, South Australia
  


• 
  Remarkable Rocks, South Australia


• 
  Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Victoria
  


• 
  Mount Augustus, Western Australia
  


• 
  Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park, Western Australia


• 
  Wave Rock, Hyden, Western Australia

New Zealand

Castle Hill, New Zealand

• 
  Castle Hill Basin, Canterbury
  


• 
  Koutu Boulders, Hokianga
  


• 
  Māori Bay giant pillow lava, Muriwai
  


• Lion Rock, Piha
  


• 
  Moeraki Boulders, Otago
  


• The Nuggets, Nugget Point, Otago


• Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
  


• 
  Putangirua Pinnacles, Wairarapa
  


• 
  Stony Batter, Waiheke Island
  


• Truman Track Beach, Punakaiki


• 
  Horeke basalts, Hokianga


• Gog and Magog, southern Stewart Island/Rakiura
  

Other countries

Talava arches, Niue

• Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
  


• Talava Arches, Niue, South Pacific

See also

• Formation of rocks


• List of rock formations that resemble human beings


• 
  List of rocks on Mars – Alphabetical list of named rocks and meteorites found on Mars


• 
  Rock cycle – Transitions through geologic time among the three main rock types: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous

References

External links

Look up formation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rock formations.

• Rock Formations


• 10 Fascinating Rock Formations


• Arches From All Over The World