Rock formation

See "Formation of rocks" for processes by which rocks are formed.

Rock formations as used in this article refers to isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrops. These are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. Rock formation in general refers to specific sedimentary strata or other rock unit in stratigraphic and petrologic studies.

Geologists classify rocks into three types according to their origin. A rock structure can be created in any rock type or combination:-

Sedimentary rocks are created from bits of rocks that have broken off other rocks by wind or water erosion, and deposited by wind, ice, or water. Erosion later exposes them in their current form. An example is Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.
Metamorphic rocks are created by rocks that have evolved into another kind of rock, usually by heat and pressure. An example is Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota.
Igneous rocks are created when molten rock cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization. They may be either intrusive bodies or volcanic extrusives. Again, erosive forces sculpt their current forms. An example is Iao Needle in Maui, Hawaii.

Geologists have created a number of terms to describe different rock structures in the landscape that can be formed by natural processes:-

Inselberg is a residual relief feature. It can be an isolated hill, a knob, ridge or small mountain that rises abruptly, like an island, from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. Inselberg is a German word that means "island mountain". Uluru/Ayers Rock in Australia is a noted example.
Peak
Stack
Mesa
Butte
Escarpment
Gorge
Sea cliff
River cliff

Lists of rock formations

Oceania

The Olgas, Northern Territory, Australia
Twelve Apostles, Melbourne, Australia
Remarkable Rocks, South Australia
Wave Rock, Hyden, Western Australia
Murphy's Hay Stacks, Nullarbor Desert, Western Australia
Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia
Kata Tjuta,Northern Territory, Australia
Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park, Western Australia
Devil's Marbles, Northern Territory, Australia
Truman Track Beach, Punakaiki, New Zealand
Castle Hill Basin, South Island, New Zealand
Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
Talava Arches, Niue, South Pacific

Asia

See also: Rock formations in Russia.

Yoichi, Hokkaido, Japan
Yeliu, Taiwan
Tanjong Bunga, Penang, Malaysia
Jabalpur Marble Rocks, Madhya Pradesh, India
Face Rock, Deccan, Hyderabad, India
Sitio Lugsangan, Barangay Tabon, Cebu, Philippines
Yun Meng Mountains, Beijing, China
Guilin, China
Grandfather and Grandmother stone, Ko Samui, Thailand
James Bond Island, Phang Nga, Thailand
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Seorak-san National Park, Sokcho, South Korea
Taichar Chuluu, Arkhangai Aimag, Mongolia
Terelj National Park, Gorkhi, Mongolia
Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia

Middle East

Timna Arch, Eilat, Israel
Karnei Hittim, Israel
Pasabagi, Cappadocia, Turkey
Goreme National Park, Turkey
Tegherivank, Armenia
Geghard, Armenia
Petra, Amman, Jordan
Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan
Kuh-E-Namak, Iran
Elemite Rock, Fars, Iran
Mahneshan, Zanjan, Iran
Pigeon Rocks, Beirut, Lebanon
Sakhret-El-Rawsheh, Beirut, Lebanon
Gobustan, Azerbaijan
Aphrodite's Rock, Paphos, Cyprus
Wadi Dhar, Yemen
Bani Al Harit, Saana, Yemen

Africa

Algeria

Tamanrasset
Tassili Mountains

Angola

Benguela Province
Iona, Tombwa

Burkina Faso

Doumes de Fabedougou
Pic du Sindou

Cameroon

Kola Gorge

Egypt

White Desert

Eritrea

Decemhare

Kenya

Tsavo Rocks

Libya

Akakus Mountains

Madagascar

Andringitra
Isalo National Park

Malawi

Makuzi Beach, Chintheche

Mali

Massif des Aguilles de Garmi

Mauritania

Ben Amera

Morocco

Siroua Mountains
Tafraoute

Namibia

Vingerklip, Damaraland
Waterberg Plateau

Niger

Geuzzam

Nigeria

Kamale Pinnacle, Mubi
Olumo Rock, Abeokuta
Riyom Rock, Jos

Seychelles

Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue

South Africa

Cedarberg Wilderness Area, Western Cape
Kagga Kamma, Ceres, Western Cape
Dead Mam's Fingers, found in the warm lakes and sea waters in this area. Dead Man's fingers are a type of rock formation, not a specific one.

Sudan

Burget Tuyur, Selima

Tunisia

Chebika Rock
Tamazrat

Zimbabwe

Domboshava Rocks
Maleme Dam, Matobos
Motombo Rock Formations

Ayo Rock Formations, Aruba
Casibari Boulders, Aruba
Guajataca, Puerto Rico
Virgin Gorda Rocks, British Virgin Islands
Devil's Trail, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Bath's Beach, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Coki Beach, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
Governor's Harbor, Eleuthera, Bahamas
Tent Bay, Barbados
Pointe des Chateaux, Grande Terre, Guadeloupe
Malendure Rock, Basse Terre, Guadeloupe
Diamond Rock, Torrens Point, Saba, Netherlands Antilles
Stonehaven Bay, Tobago

Latin America

Piedras Encimidas Valley, Zacatlan, Mexico
Copper Canyon, Chihuahua, Mexico
Los Arcos Rocks, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Cerro de Arcos, Loja, Ecuador
Dali's Desert, Potosi, Bolivia
Valle de Las Rocas, Uyuni, Bolivia
Canon de Duene, Bolivia
Ponta Grossa, Brazil
Pedro do Jacare, São Paulo (state)São Paulo, Brazil
Valle de la Luna, Antofagasta, Chile
Playa de la Calabocillos, Constitucion, Chile
Bosque del Cabo, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island, Galapagos Islands
Quebrada de Humahuaca, Humahuaca Argentina
Ischigualasto, San Juan Province, Argentina
Cerro Fitz Roy, El Chalten, Argentina
Amambay, Paraguay
La Piedra Pintada, Parque Congreso de Abril, Uruguay
Colca Canyon, Arequipa, Peru
Tepui, Roraima, Canaima National Park, Venezuela
Piedras de San Martin, Ciudad de Coro, Venezuela
Piedra de Penol, Antioquia, Colombia
Laguna de La Plaza, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia

Europe

Others in Europe

Greece

Sarti, Sithonia
Samaria Gorge, Crete
Meteora

Italy

Il Gargano, Vieste, Apulia
Palmarola, Sicily
Valle Seriana, Bergamo, Lombardy
Golfo di Orosei,Cala Luna, Monte Tiscali, Sardinia

Iceland

Vestmannaeyjar
Jokulsa Canyon National Park, Mývatn
Dimmuborgir, Mývatn
Dyrholaey
Eystrahorn, Hvalnes

Denmark

Bornholm
Mons Klint, Mon
Gedser Odde, Gedser
Stevns Klint,Ostjaellands
Sangstrup, Djursland

Sweden

The islands Gotland, Fårö and Öland has many coastal stretches with stack formations.
Busten, Glaskogens Nature Reserve, Kalleboda
Stegborgsgarden, Stegborg
Stenhamra, Uppland