Monday 24 August 2015

Largest Monoliths in the World

Pena de Bernal

Top 10 Largest Monoliths in the World, Pena de Bernal
Pena de Bernal 
Peña de Bernal (“Bernal Peak”) is one of the largest monoliths situated in San Sebastian Bernal, in the state of Queretaro. It rises 1148 feet above the town. It was formed about 65 million years ago during, the Jurassic period. But a recent analysis shows that it could be much younger than it was previously thought.

Rock of Gibraltar

Top 10 Largest Monoliths in the World, Rock of Gibraltar
Rock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar is one of the largest monolithic limestone promontories. It is situated located in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Regarded as the crown property, this 426 meters (1,396 feet) high limestone monolith is the home of 27,800 Gibraltarians and 250 Barbary macaques. Gibraltar was one of the Pillars of Hercules in Greek mythology.

El Capitan, Yosemite

Top 10 Largest Monoliths in the World, El Capitan, Yosemite
El Capitan, Yosemite 
El Capitan is one of the most famous sights in Yosemite National Park, is a granite monolith. It rises almost 910 meter (3,000 foot) vertically from Yosemite Valley. Although once thought impossible to climb, Climbing on It is a favorite challenge among expert rock climbers. Warren J. Harding, Wayne Merry and George Whitmore were the first to climb the Nose of El Capitan using ropes in 1958.

Torres del Paine

Top 10 Largest Monoliths in the World, Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine
Situated in the Extreme South region of Patagonian, Torres del Paine s a national park Chile and features mountains, lakes and glaciers. The centerpiece of the park is Cordillera del Paine. The Torres del Paine has three granite peaks. The highest peak is about 2,500 meters. This is considered at number seven in our list of top 10 largest monoliths in the world.

Ben Amera

Top 10 Largest Monoliths in the World, Ben Amera
Ben Amera 
Ben Amera is the sixth of the largest monoliths in the world. It is situated in Mauritania, close to the border with Western Sahara. It is probably Mauritania’s best kept secret. There are some other monoliths near Ben Amers.

Devils Tower

Top 10 Largest Monoliths in the World, Devils Tower
Devils Tower
Located in the Black Hills in Crook County, Devils Tower is the core of an ancient volcano exposed from erosion. It rises 386 meters (1,267 feet) above the surrounding terrain. And is the first one declared a United States National Monument in 1906. The mountain has become famous when it was chosen as the location of Steven Spielberg’s science fiction masterpiece film Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Sigiriya

Top 10 Largest Monoliths in the World , image credit pixabay.com
Sigiriya is a 370 meter (1214 foot) high ‘Lion rock’ fortress located in the central Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is one of Sri Lanka’s most attracted tourist site. Until the 14th century it was used as a Buddhist monastery. UNESCO has listed Sigiriya World Heritage Site.

 Sugarloaf Mountain

Top 10 Largest Monoliths in the World, Sugarloaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain
One of the most commonly recognized and major tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro. Sugarloaf Mountain situates on a peninsula that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean. It rises 1299 feet high from the sea level. Tourists have to take two cable cars to reach the summit of the mountain where they can enjoy the wonderful views of Copacabana.

Zuma Rock

Top 10 Largest Monoliths in the World, Zuma Rock
Zuma Rock 
Zumu Rock is one of the largest monoliths in Niger State, Nigeria. Zuma Rock lies north of Nigeria’s capital Abuja and is easily observed by driving the main road from Abuja to Kaduna. Zuma Rock is 725 meters (2378 feet) above its surroundings. A person’s face can be recognized in the white part at the center of the rock according to some observers.

 Uluru/Ayers Rock

Top 10 Largest Monoliths in the World, Uluru/Ayers Rock
Uluru/Ayers Rock 
Uluru is the largest monolith in the world. Also known as Ayers Rock, it is one of Australia’s most recognizable natural icons, situated 335 km south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs. The remarkable sandstone formation stands 348 meter high and measures 9.4 km in circumference. Interestingly the rock undergoes dramatic color changes. Uluru is declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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