1. Manpupuner Rock Formations, Russia
The Manpupuner rock formations or the Seven Strong Men Rock Formations or Poles of the Komi Republic
are a set of 7 gigantic abnormally shaped stone pillars located north
of the Ural mountains in the Troitsko-Pechorsky District of the Komi
Republic.
These monoliths are
around 30 to 42 m (100-140 ft) high and jut out of a hilly plateau
formed through the weathering effects of ice and winds.
Deemed one of the Seven Wonders of Russia, the Manpupuner rock formations are a very popular attraction in Russia,
though not well known internationally and relatively unspoiled by
tourism. Their height and abnormal shapes supposedly make the top of
these rock giants inaccessible even to experienced rock-climbers. [link, map]
2. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
is a unique national forest park located in Zhangjiajie City in
northern Hunan Province in the People's Republic of China. It is one of
several national parks within the Wulingyuan Scenic Area.
The most notable geographic features of the park are the pillar-like formations
that are seen throughout the park. They are the result of many years of
erosion. The weather is moist year round, and as a result, the foliage
is very dense. Much of the erosion which forms these pillars are the
result of expanding ice in the winter and the plants which grow on them.
These formations are a distinct hallmark of Chinese landscape, and can
be found in many ancient Chinese paintings.
In 1992, Wulingyuan was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of the park's quartz-sandstone pillars, the 3,544-foot (1,080 m)
Southern Sky Column, had been officially renamed "Avatar Hallelujah
Mountain" in honor of the eponymous film in January 2010. [link, map]
3. Lena Pillars, Russia
Lena Pillars
is the name given to a natural rock formation along the banks of the
Lena River in far eastern Siberia. The pillars are 150-300 m (490-985
ft) high and consists of the alternating horizons of limestone, marlstones, dolomites and slate. The Lena Pillars National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012.
The giant stone colonnades of Lena Pillars Nature Park line the banks of the Lena River
in the Sakha Republic, also known as Yakutia. Isolated from each other,
the pillars soar to heights of 100 meters or more than 328 feet, and
are also rich in fossils. They formed by freeze-thaw action over the
millennia due to the area’s extreme changes in temperatures.
The site lies less than a
day's boat ride upriver (south) from the city of Yakutsk, the capital
of the autonomous Sakha Republic. One may plan a river cruise by
contacting a travel service in the city of Yakutsk. [link1, link2, map]
4. Isimila Gorge in Iringa, Tanzania
This Monument in
Tanzania is found at Isimila, 20 km (12.5 mi) South of Iringa on the
Mbeya road. Isimila date back some thousands years and contains ancient
tools, weapons and dramatic sandstone columns that stand as mute
sentinels to a bygone era.
Pillars standing in
arrays along a 2 km (1.25 mi) gorge and the height of each is variable
ranging between 20-30 feet (6-9 m) high from the basement of the eroded
land. The site was discovered in 1951 by Mr. D.A.Maclennan of the St. Peters School in Johannesburg, South Africa who was on his way from Nairobi to Johannesburg. [link]
5. Đavolja Varoš, Serbia
Đavolja Varoš
(meaning "Devil's Town") is a peculiar rock formation, located in south
Serbia on the Radan Mountain near Kuršumlija. It features 202 exotic
formations described as earth pyramids or "towers", as the locals refer
to them. They are 2-15 m (7-50 ft) tall and 4-6 m (13-20 ft) wide at the
base.
These formations were
created by strong erosion of the soil that was scene of intense volcanic
activity thousands of years ago. Most of the towers have "caps" or "heads" of andesite,
which protect them from further erosion. Since 1959, Đavolja Varoš has
been protected by the state and a 1995 decision of the Serbian
Government declared it a major natural monument subject to category one
protection.
A natural spring is
located beneath the formations and has a high mineral concentration.
There are two springs: Đavolja voda (Devil’s Water), with extremely
acidic water (pH 1.5) and high mineral concentration (15 g/l of water),
and Crveno vrelo (Red Well). Đavolja Varoš was a nominee in the New
Seven Wonders of Nature campaign. [link, map]
6. Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, Madagascar
Tsingy de Bemaraha is
one of Madagascar's newest parks - it was opened to the public only in
1998. The 152,000 ha (587 sq mi) Bemaraha is best known for its tsingy
sharp limestone pinnacles that may reach 150 feet (45 m) in height. Cut
through the tsingy are canyons and gorges full of rich fauna and flora.
The Tsingys are karstic
plateaus in which groundwater has undercut the elevated uplands, and has
gouged caverns and fissures into the limestone. The word tsingy is
indigenous to the Malagasy language as a description of the karst
badlands of Madagascar. The word can be translated into English as where
one cannot walk barefoot. This place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. [link1, link2, map]
7. Needles (Black Hills), USA
The Needles of the Black
Hills of South Dakota are a region of fantastically eroded granite
pillars, towers, and spires. Popular with rock climbers and tourists
alike, the Needles are accessed from the Needles Highway, which is a part of Sylvan Lake Road (SD 87/89).
The Cathedral Spires and
Limber Pine Natural Area, a portion of the Needles containing six
ridges of pillars as well as a disjunct stand of limber pine, was
designated a National Natural Landmark in 1976.
The Needles were the
original site proposed for the Mount Rushmore carvings. The location was
rejected by the sculptor Gutzon Borglum owing to the poor quality of
the granite and the fact that they were too thin to support the
sculptures. The Needles attract approximately 300,000 people annually. [link, map]
8. Meteora, Greece
The Metéora is one of
the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries
in Greece, second only to Mount Athos.
The six monasteries are
built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the
Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in
central Greece. Some of the pillars are high up to 400 meters (1.300 ft).
The nearest town is Kalambaka. The Metéora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List under criteria I, II, IV, V and VII. [link, map]
9. Pobiti Kamani, Bulgaria
Pobiti Kamani
is a rock phenomenon located in Varna Province, Bulgaria, on the road
between Varna and Sofia around several villages just west of Varna. It
consists of several groups of natural rock formations on a total area of
7 sq km (2.7 sq mi).
The formations are
mainly stone columns between 5 and 7 metres (16-23 ft) high and from 0.3
to 3 metres (1-10 ft) thick. The columns do not have solid foundations,
but are instead hollow and filled with sand, and look like they are
stuck into the surrounding sands, which gives the phenomenon its name.
In order to be preserved, Pobiti Kamani was designated a natural
landmark in 1937. [link, map]
10. Cappadocia, Turkey
The Cappadocian Region
located in the center of the Anatolian Region of Turkey, with its
valley, canyon, hills and unusual rock formation created as a result of
the eroding rains and winds of thousands of years of the level,
lava-covered plain located between the volcanic mountains Erciyes,
Melendiz and Hasan as well as its troglodyte dwellings carved out of the
rock and cities dug out into underground, presents an otherworldly
appearance.
The eruptions of these
mountains which were active volcanoes in geological times lasted until 4
thousands years ago. A soft tuff layer was formed, 150 m (500 ft) in
thickness, by the issuing lavas in the valley surrounded by mountains.
The rivers, flood water running down the hillsides of valleys and strong
winds eroded the geological formations consisting of tuff on the
plateau formed with tuff layers, thus creating bizarre shapes called
fairy Chimneys. These take on the names of mushroom shaped, pinnacled,
capped and conic shaped formations.
The area is a popular tourist destination, as it has many areas with unique geological, historic, and cultural features. Hot-air ballooning is very popular in Cappadocia and is available in Goreme. Trekking is enjoyed in Ihlara Valley, Monastery Valley (Guzelyurt), Urgup, and Goreme. [link1, link2, map]
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2. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
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3. Lena Pillars, Russia
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4. Isimila Gorge in Iringa, Tanzania
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5. Đavolja Varoš, Serbia
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6. Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, Madagascar
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7. Needles (Black Hills), USA
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8. Meteora, Greece
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9. Pobiti Kamani, Bulgaria
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10. Cappadocia, Turkey
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