Eclectic Perambulations in the Noosphere
The Storr is prime example of the Trotternish landslip, the longest such feature in Great Britain.
The area in front of the cliffs of the Storr is known as the Sanctuary. This has a number of weirdly shaped rock pinnacles, the remnants of ancient landslips. One of the most famous of these is known as the Old Man of Storr."
by Rick Scott
"The photo above showing a huge outcrop of breccia was taken in Fall Canyon at Death Valley National Park, California. Breccia typically forms when angular fragments (over 2mm in diameter) of rock accumulate in streambeds and alluvial fans, for instance. The pieces become bound by mineral cement or are fixed by much smaller particles that fill the spaces between the angular pieces. A debris flow is one condition where binding of the fragments can happen. Another such condition is a meteor impact crater. Breccia is similar to conglomerate, but in conglomerate the fragments are more rounded, indicating that they've traveled further (are more eroded) before cementation occurs."
“Ringing Rocks” (20 miles east of Butte, Montana) is one of the most unusual rock formations in the country. A similar "ringing rock" formation exists in Pennsylvania. Folks from all over travel the three-mile gravel road north of I-90 just to pound on Montana's version of "Ringing Rocks" with hammers.
Nobody knows for sure exactly why the rocks ring like bells when struck with a hammer. The rocks do contain a significant amount of iron, which might be part of the explanation. However, the high iron content doesn’t explain two other strange qualities that the rocks possess . . . Not all of the rocks ring when struck, and they don’t ring when they are removed from the site, suggesting that the ringing has something to do with the way the rocks lay against one another. Larger flat ones seem to produce an especially impressive sound when struck.
Maybe you've read Stephen King's huge fantasy epic "The Dark Tower", or perhaps the Tower of Mordor from "The Lord of the Rings" more readily comes to mind? In any case, you'll be surprised to find the fantastic huge black tower actually exists... on a small island near Africa. More precisely, in the Obo National Park on the São Tomé island in the Gulf of Guinea. It's called Pico Cão Grande, or the Great Dog peak.
This is one of the highest needle-shaped "volcanic plug" peaks on Earth (300 m), perhaps even more impressive than the Devils Tower in Wyoming (386 m), as it rises above the landscape in an equally unexpected and even bluntly obscene way. It will be however more difficult to photograph than Devils Tower : its top is often hidden by clouds or precipitation, not to mention that it's harder to get to the tiny country of São Tomé and Principe.
The heavy mist and humidity over the surrounding jungle (the rainfall varies between 4500 mm to 5000 mm per year) adds to the mystery and the foreboding feeling of the Great Dog Peak, as its rocky presence rises and darkly glistens in the murk.
"The word paradise often conjures images of a luscious beach, blue-green waves, and hammocks stretched between palm trees. However, the Czechs might offer a different opinion on the subject.
Cesky Raj, or the Bohemian Paradise, is a protected area in the North of the country, covered in majestic forests, hilltop castles and volcanic pillars. Only a day-trip away from the capital, Prague, it has become a popular tourist destination.
Among the sites in the area, the hruba skala or rock town, is the most famous. Just seven kilometers from Turnov, the rock town is punctuated with volcanic sandstone pillars shooting through the tree line. The bright white of the pillars strikingly contrasts the deep greens of the surrounding woodland. Although the hruba skala is the most notable of rock outcroppings in Cesky Raj, the rest of the protected area is dotted with similar volcanic pillars and a hike around the area is a breathtaking endeavor."
"The Azure Window (or Tieqa Żerqa as the locals call it) is simply stunning. A popular site for scuba diving this window was created thousands of years ago with the collapse of two caves. Since before the Roman Empire this natural arch – perhaps a table top created for Poseidon to picnic upon – has captivated those who laid their eyes upon it.
Azure Window, a gorgeous spot on the Maltese island of Gozo may very well look like this soon."
