The Wonders of Geology in photos

Earth - an immense place with lots of unique flora and fauna, so strange that the new geological discoveries are made almost daily. In this list could include thousands of places, but we were forced to narrow it down to the 25 most bizarre geological formations on Earth.

Moeraki Boulders

These unusually large spherical boulders stretches along the beach Koekohe on the coast of New Zealand. Their origins have been the subject of many legends of the Maori, but from a scientific point of view Moeraki Boulders are a result of coastal erosion.

White Desert

Known as Sahara el Beida, where "Sugar" refers to the desert, this barren area is located 45 km from the town of Farafra. She is known for its white cream color and its massive rock formations of chalk, which are the result of sandstorms. The White Desert is one of the greatest attractions of Egypt.

Giant's Causeway

Giants Causeway - a region with about 40 000 interconnected with one another basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The tops of the columns form a flat pad that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Giant's Causeway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

Flute Cave Reed

Cave reed flute with its multi-colored lights, like something out of a sci-fi movie. The cave got its name from the reeds growing on the outside of which produce melodious flute. This is one of the most beautiful caves in the world.

Mono Lake

Mono Lake - a large shallow lake, which has no outlet to the ocean. Although the lake is no fish due to the high alkalinity of the water, he had an unusually productive ecosystem, based on crustaceans, brine shrimp, which live in its waters. Mono Lake provides an excellent habitat for two million migratory birds that feed on crustaceans. These birds nest here every year, as part of this unique ecosystem.

Devils Tower

The first official United States national monument, Devils Tower in Wyoming was declared as such in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt. The monument got its name in 1875 during an expedition led by Col. Richard Irving Dodge when his interpreter misinterpreted the name initially sound like a Tower of Bad God. It was then that she began to Devil's Tower.

Twelve Apostles

The twelve apostles - a group of limestone towers of the coast of the National Park of Port Campbell in Victoria, Australia. Apostles were formed by erosion: harsh weather conditions from Southern Ocean gradually destroyed soft limestone, forming giant cliffs, which then became arches. Arches, in turn, collapsed, leaving the tower 45 meters high.

Crystal Cave

Cave giant crystals associated with the shaft Naik, leaving at 300 meters below the surface of Chihuahua, Mexico. The main chamber comprises a giant cave-solyanisto acid crystals, some of which are the largest natural crystals.

Gate to Hell

Gates of Hell - the area of ​​natural gas in Darwaz, Turkmenistan. This place is famous for its source of natural gas, which burns continuously, since the discovery of Soviet scientists in 1971 Neftekhimik, eating rich gas deposits in the area. Pungent smell of burning sulfur is distributed over long distances around.

Chocolate Hills

Chocolate Hills - a geological formation in the province of Bohol, Philippines. There are at least 1260 of the hills on the area of ​​50 square kilometers. They are covered in green grass that turns brown (chocolate) during the dry season, hence, the corresponding name.

Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni - the world's largest salt plateau area of ​​10582 square kilometers. Plateau is located in southwestern Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, at an altitude of 3656 meters above sea level. Salar de Uyuni was formed of several prehistoric lakes. Currently saline contains 50-70% lithium reserves in the world.

Stone Forest

Stone Forest - famous group of limestone formations, located in Yunnan Province in China. High cliffs rise from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, similar to the fossil trees, thus creating the illusion of the forest made of stone.

Socotra Island

Lying about 240 kilometers east of the Horn of Africa and 380 kilometers south of the Arabian Peninsula, Socotra island is very isolated, and one third of the representatives of its flora and fauna found nowhere else on the planet. Socotra Island is described as the most alien-looking place on Earth.

Fairy chimneys of Cappadocia

Hood, also known as a magic chimney is high thin spire rock, which rises from the base of the bog. Magic chimneys Huda, which can vary from 1 to 45 meters in height, are in the historical region of Turkey - Cappadocia.

Jeita Grotto

Jeita Grotto - a system of limestone caves located to the north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. This place can be visited only by boat, since it is necessary to overcome the underground river that provides fresh drinking water more than a million Lebanese.

Skaftafell Area

Skaftafell - a protected area in the southeast of Iceland. The landscape is very similar to some of the Alps, but it was formed thousands of years ago the combination of volcanoes and glaciers. The area is known for the unusually pleasant climate and diverse geography, as well as many waterfalls, including the eponymous waterfall and Skaftafell cave.

Puerto Princesa

Located about 50 kilometers north of the city center of Puerto Princesa in the Philippines, this river is surrounded by complex rock formations, strange marine flora, fauna and the massive caves. Deeper underground river area almost inaccessible for visitors and researchers due to lack of oxygen.

Yellowstone

Surrounded by canyons, rivers, lakes and mountain ranges, the Yellowstone caldera is home to the largest supervolcano on the continent. Grizzly freely strolling herds of buffalo, elk and wolves - are just a few among the many residents of Yellowstone National Park. Perhaps the most notable feature of the Yellowstone - Old Faithful geyser, known as the most predictable geyser in the world, because he breaks every hour and a half.

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is located in eastern Utah, USA. This place is known by the fact that it has preserved more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Thin Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and formations. Forty-three arches have collapsed due to erosion since 1970.

Richat Structure

Also known as the Eye of the Sahara, this formation can be found in the western desert of Mauritania. Dutch astronaut Andre Kyuipers took this photo from the International Space Station. Although no one really sure of its origin, structure Rishat initially interpreted as the place of the impact of an asteroid, because of the high degree of roundness. Today, however, carried out thinking that it is a very balanced and deep geological ruined dome.

Eysrayzenvelt

Eysrayzenvelt - a natural limestone ice cave located in Werfen, Austria, about 40 km south of Salzburg. This is the largest ice cave of the world, stretching more than 42 km. Eysrayzenvelt attends about 200,000 tourists every year.

Babel

Babel translates as "old," and is the name of the field on Mountain Bucegi plateau in Romania. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, and the name comes from a special form of rocks and cliffs scattered everywhere and creating a picturesque landscape.

Arizona Wave

Wave - sandstone rock formation, located on the border of Arizona and Utah borders on the Colorado Plateau. Arizona Wave is known among travelers and photographers because of its colorful undulating forms and complex path, which must be overcome to get here.

Pancake Rocks

Pancake Rocks in New Zealand - to a large extent destroyed limestone area where the sea breaks through several vertical vents during high tides. This place can get different passages, winding among the impressive rock formations.

Fingal Cave

Fingal's Cave - sea cave on the uninhabited island of Staffa in Scotland. Its size and naturally arched roof, as well as eerie sounds produced echo waves give it a natural atmosphere cathedral. Gaelic name of the cave - Uaimh Bhinn, means "melodious cave."