Formed by Mother Nature‘s creative hand using weathering and erosion as tools, Australia’s rock formations are beauties to behold. Still undergoing constant changes, Australia‘s rock formations are considered some of the most spectacular beauties of Nature. Read on to know more about these impressive rock artworks from Down Under:DEVIL'S MARBLESphoto linkDevils Marbles or Karlu Karlu, as the aborigines called this sacred site, is situated near Wauchope about 114 km south of Tennant Creek, in the Northern Territory. The Devils Marbles, 4 meters high, 13-33 meters wide, are a collection of gigantic round, red-colored boulders formed millions of years ago. These rocks are the end result of result of the hardening of magma under a thick layer of sandstone. As time passes, the sandstone were eroded causing the granite to expand and cracks were formed. The Devil’s Marbles are still undergoing transformation – eroding into a square cubes of rock. Scientists predicts this Nature wonder will soon be just little pebbles, 50 million years from now!
THREE SISTERSphoto linkThe Three Sisters is located in Jamison Valley, in New South Wales, Australia. Another spectacular rock formation, Three sisters was formed by sandstone erosion. The sandstone at blue Mountain was soft in nature that water seeks through little cracks, slowly enlarging them that tend to erode eventually. According to local legend, three Aboriginal sisters fell in love with three men from a rival tribe. Since marriage was prohibited by tribal law; their father, a witch doctor turned them into rocks to protect them. But he was killed during the battle and no one else can turned them back to their human form.
HYDEN WAVE ROCKphoto linkWave Rock is an unusual landform located near the wheatbelt town of Hyden, in Western Australia. About 14 meters high and 110m long, Wave rock is composed of granite formed 2700 million years ago. The gray, red, brown and yellow vertical stripes of the Wave are chemical deposits (carbonates and iron hydroxide) brought about by rains. Wave rock has become one of Australia’s tourist destination, attracting more than 140,000 tourists yearly.
Bungle Bunglesphoto linkThe Bungle Bugle is located in the Purnululu National Park, Western Australia. These spectacular beehive-shaped rock formation was formed over 350 million years ago. This unique massif rising as high as 578 meters above sea level, appears like terrified tigers, striped in orange and black. The domes orange color bands consist iron and manganese compound, while the black stripes are the result of dark algae accumulated in the softer surface layers of rock. In July 2003, Purnululu National Park and the Bungle Bungles site were declared a World Heritage site.
The PINNACLES photo linkOne of the must see sites in Australia, The Pinnacles are limestone formations located within Nambung National Park, in Cervantes, Western Australia. Nambung National Park covers an area of 17,487 hectares, and home to a wide array of wildlife. These incredible land formation, with some several meters tall, is believed to be formed from seashells about millions of years ago. Attracting over 250,000 visitors each year, Nambung National Park and the Pinnacles is a must see place in Australia.
12 APOSTLES photo linkOriginally called Sow and Piglets, the Twelve Apostles are giant rocks stack off the shore of the water in Port Campbell National Park in Victoria, Australia. Rising up to 70 meters from the waters, these sandstone were formed around 10 to 20 million years ago. At that time, the ocean constantly bombarded the coastline thus eroding the soft limestone. These natural process, formed caves in the cliffs, eventually became arches, that eventually collapsed; forming nine stacks measuring up to 45 meters high. The stacks are vulnerable to further erosion from the waves. On 3 July 2005, a 50 meter tall stack collapsed, leaving eight still standing,
AYERS ROCK photo linkAyers Rock or Uluru is one of Australia’s famous landmark. Rising 348 meters high above sea level, this sandstone rock is located in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Northern Territory, central Australia. Uluru was formed about 500 million year ago. Caves, waterholes and more than hundred species of birds can be found in the site. Uluru is known to change color throughout the day and year.
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