Natural island complexes are always unusual and unique. Their isolation from the outer world, peculiar insular climate, influence of sea currents, creative and destructive activity of sea waves form landscapes unique in their beauty. The nature of the islands where active volcanoes still exist is especially interesting.
Cape Stolbchaty is especially peculiar because it is formed by giant stone column-like blocks resting on a base flattened by sea waves.
frank said on August 17th, 2009 , 12:40 pm
wow that is pretty neat.. I can’t believe that it is natural. It’s a really cool design
Bob said on August 19th, 2009 , 10:14 am
this is basalt the core of an ancient volcano
Swad said on August 19th, 2009 , 5:29 pm
Stumbled!
There are stones like this on the east coast of
Ireland and the west coast of Scotland, known as the “giants causeway” legend has it they were an ancient bridge used by a giant. This is also proof of Scotland and Ireland being connected at one point in time
Grigor said on August 20th, 2009 , 12:21 pm
The picture with the people seems to be of The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. It is clearly basaltic.
The one below it may be from the West Coast of Scotland…
Tj said on August 31st, 2009 , 12:10 pm
These are basalt columns. They form during the cooling of the stone. They can be found all over the world and form when there is a large lava flow that has the right cooling conditions. The rock shrinks while cooling and has to crack as it no longer takes up all the space it has filled. You may have heard that the hexagon is natures strongest shape. Well its more or less true. These formations tend to crack into hexagons, but depending on the conditions (cooling speed, make up of the lava, homogeneity of the lava, etc.) can be much less uniform and other shapes. In some places, when you get mud feet thick, you find similar patterns developing in the mud cracks (though because it has to actually expel water and thus dries from top to bottom rather than all at once like the basalt, the pattern is rarely observed, and never so deep. It can be recreated in the lab though.)
Mark said on October 5th, 2009 , 8:00 pm
The “Rock Formation” In Ireland is in the photo shown with the people known as the Giants Causeway outside Portrush, Co, Antrim.
I live there. Amazing place when i first saw it.
The Giant Referred to was Finn McCool
marcos said on November 21st, 2009 , 4:27 am
Awesome formation, my first impression is that it reminds me of Devil’s Postpile in Mammoth, California
http://www.nps.gov/depo/index.htm
Rob Wallace said on April 21st, 2010 , 1:37 pm
Cool. Digital Rocks!~