List of rock formations

A rock formation is an interesting shape or structure made from rocks that stands out in nature. These special shapes are usually created when wind, water, and other natural forces slowly wear away at rocks over many years. This process is called erosion. Rock formations can look like tall pillars, arches, or even strange shapes that seem to touch the sky.

Rocks formations and the Dedo de Deus (God's Finger) peak in the background, Serra dos Órgãos National Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

Rock formations can be made from different kinds of rocks. There are three main types of rocks: igneous rocks, which cool from melted rock; metamorphic rocks, which change from one type to another under heat and pressure; and sedimentary rocks, which are built up layer by layer from tiny particles carried by water or wind. All these rocks can be shaped by erosion into amazing formations.

Geologists, who study the Earth, have many words to describe the different kinds of rock shapes they find in the world. This list shows some of the most famous rock formations found on every continent, showing how beautiful and varied nature can be.

Asia

Armenia

China

Hong Kong

Amah Rock, New Territories
Lion Rock, New Kowloon/New Territories

Jordan

India

For a more comprehensive list, see List of rock formations in India.

Jabalpur Marble Rocks, Madhya Pradesh
Rock Formations in Rayalseema Andhra Pradesh, Hampi Karnataka
Yana

Israel

Thailand

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
Goreme National Park

Other countries

Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Wulingyuan
Candle Rock (Yoichi, Hokkaidō, Japan)
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

Africa

Kenya

Tsavo Rocks

Libya

Jebel Akhdar

Madagascar

Mauritania

Ben Amera

Namibia

Bogenfels

Nigeria

Olumo Rock, Abeokuta
Riyom Rock, Jos
Zuma Rock, Abuja

South Africa

Cedarberg Wilderness Area, Western Cape
Kagga Kamma, Ceres, Western Cape
Three Sisters (Northern Cape)

Domes de Fabedougou, Burkina Faso

Kola Gorge rock structures, Cameroon

Vingerklip at Ugab Valley in Namibia

North America

Main article: Rock formations in the United States

Rock formations are special shapes in the land made from stone. They happen when wind, water, and other forces slowly change the rocks over many years. These formations can look very different from the land around them and are often very beautiful.

Some famous rock formations are found in places like Sierra de Organos National Park, Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Piedras Encimadas Valley, Zacatlán, Puebla, Peña de Bernal, Copper Canyon, Los Arcos Rocks, and Hierve el Agua in Mexico. There are also interesting rock shapes in Bosque del Cabo in Costa Rica and Los Ladrillos in Panama.

South America

Argentina

Quebrada de Humahuaca, Humahuaca
Ongamira Valley, Córdoba
Ischigualasto, San Juan Province
Monte Fitz Roy, El Chalten

Bolivia

Dali's Desert, Potosi
Valle de Las Rocas, Uyuni
Canon de Duene

Brazil

Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain), Rio de Janeiro
Ponta Grossa, Paraná
Pedra do Jacaré (Alligator Stone), São Paulo
Dedo de Deus (God's Finger Rock), Serra dos Órgãos, Rio de Janeiro
Pedra do Cão Sentado, Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro
Pedra da Galinha Choca, Quixadá, Ceará

Chile

Valle de la Luna, Antofagasta
Playa de la Calabocillos, Constitucion
Silla del Diablo

Colombia

El Peñón de Guatapé (La Piedra de Peñol), Antioquia
Laguna de La Plaza, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy

Ecuador

Cerro de Arcos, Loja
Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island, Galápagos Islands

Falkland Islands

Princes Street Stone Run

Paraguay

Amambay

Peru

Colca Canyon, Arequipa

Uruguay

Sierra de Mahoma, San José
Cerro Arequita, Lavalleja

Venezuela

Tepui, Roraima, Canaima National Park
Piedras de San Martin, La Vela de Coro, Estado Falcón

Europe

Albania

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hajdučka vrata, Čvrsnica mountain

Bulgaria

Main article: Rock formations in 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
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

Estonia

Vormsi island

Finland

Närpes
Naantali

France

Georgia

Katskhi Pillar

Germany

List of rock formations in the Harz
Battert Rocks, Baden-Baden, Black Forest
Externsteine
Falkenfelsen
Lange Anna, Heligoland
Rotenfels, Nahe, Bad Münster am Stein-Ebernburg, Rhineland-Palatinate
Teufelsturm, Elbe Sandstone Mountains
Wasgau

Greece

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

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
The thrown stones, Lazio

Latvia

Vidzeme
Pusena Kalns, Bartava

North Macedonia

Malta

Dwerja, Gozo
Dingli Cliffs, Dingli
Malta Escarpment (underwater)

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)
Trolltunga

Poland

Cudgel of Hercules – monadrock in Ojców National Park
Mnich
Słoneczna
Kościeliska Valley, Western Tatras
Dunajec River Gorge, Zakopane

Portugal

Ponta da Piedade, Lagos, Algarve
Albufeira
Porto Moniz, Madeira
Ponta de Sao Lourenco, Madeira

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), 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

The Three Brothers, Busani, Buryatia
Kamen Shahtai, Lake Baikal
Kisilyakh Range, Yakutia, topped by kigilyakh formations
Kisilyakh-Tas, Yakutia, topped by kigilyakh formations
Kontalaksky Golets, Zabaykalsky Krai
Kyun-Tas, Yakutia, topped by kigilyakh formations
Lena Cheeks, Irkutsk Oblast
Lena Pillars, Yakutia
Monrepo Park, Vyborg, St. Petersburg
Stolby National Park, Krasnoyarsk Krai
Sail Rock, Krasnodar Krai
Taganay National Park, Chelyabinsk
Ulakhan-Sis, Yakutia, topped by kigilyakh formations

Serbia

For a more comprehensive list, see List of rock formations in Serbia.

Đavolja Varoš (Devil's Town)
Prskalo waterfall, Kučaj mountains
Vratna Gates three natural stone bridges
Đavoljev kamen near Trgovište

Spain

Acantilados de Los Gigantes, Tenerife Island, Canary Islands
Los Roques de Garcia, Tenerife Island, Canary Islands
Las Canades, Tenerife Island, Canary Islands
Ciudad Encantada, Castilla–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 have many coastal stretches with stack formations.
Busten, Glaskogens Nature Reserve, Kalleboda
Stegborgsgarden, Stegborg
Stenhamra, Uppland