The steepest cliffs in the world. What is the tallest rock in the world? How tall is it and where is it located? White Cliffs of Dover, UK

We have already looked at the highest blank wall near skyscrapers, here it is, and now let’s move on to natural objects.

Mount Thor ( official name Thor Peak is a granite peak recognized as the highest vertical slope in the world. The slope is located in Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island (Canada). The height of the peak is 1250 meters, and the slope of the wall is 105 degrees.

Take a look and find out more about it...-

The height of the peak reaches 1250 m, and the slope of the wall is 105 degrees. For comparison, for example, the Burj Khalifa reaches a height of 828 meters, the Eiffel Tower - 324 meters, the CN Tower - 553 meters, and the Empire State Building - 381 meters.

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Mount Thor, of course, is not the most high mountain in the world, but despite its rather remote location, it is very popular among numerous climbers and thrill-seekers who come to this place to overcome difficult route climb, listen to the sound of the blizzard and merge with pristine nature.

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Thor Peak is made of granite and is part of the Baffin mountain range, which in turn is part of the majestic Arctic Cordillera mountain range. Mount Thor is Canada's most popular peak.

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The first to reach the top of the slope were members of the Alpine Club of Canada. This happened in 1965 under the leadership of the famous climber Pat Baird. And in the summer of 2006, with the help of special climbing equipment, the first successful descents from the steep slope of Mount Tor were carried out.

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The most favorable months for climbing Tor Peak are July and August. Conquest is impossible without good preparation and a serious approach. A successful climb requires experience, special equipment, and the importance of logistics and good weather conditions should not be underestimated.

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I can also remind you of some interesting rock formations: look at this spectacular one or like this

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is not just the largest monolithic rock in the world, but at the same time the oldest among similar monoliths. It is approximately 680 million years old. And it is located almost in the middle of Australia - in the state of Northern Territory, near the city of Alice Springs.

This huge sandstone stone has simply incredible dimensions: almost 350 meters in height and as much as nine kilometers in circumference.

And that's not the most amazing thing! Tourists are attracted here by the remarkable ability of Mount Uluru to change color depending on how the sun's rays fall on it.

In the morning, when dawn comes, the rock is painted in dark purple tones, but by noon its color becomes golden, then orange, increasingly acquiring terracotta notes. By sunset, Ayers Rock darkens again, plunging into gray and brown tones. Sometimes the color of the rock is closer to blue and light blue shades.

And although such a play of light is not at all uncommon for mountains (just look at the paintings of Nicholas Roerich to be convinced of the whimsical coloring mountain landscapes), but Uluru is striking in such changes because it stands alone in the middle of a huge desert plain, from which nothing like this happens.

Of course, scientists have often wondered where a huge monolith could have come from in such a flat landscape. Various versions have been put forward, including the celestial origin of the rock: a meteorite crashed into the desert, remaining there forever.

However, a more plausible theory claims that Ayers Rock is the surviving link of an ancient mountain range, named after the famous German cartographer Petermann. Over millions of years, the rock weathered, and only a monolithic rock was able to resist for so long, although it was subject to significant erosion, acquiring a rounded outline.

Naturally, the rock, carried around by the wind, did not disappear from the mainland. It turned into small stones and grains of sand, distributed evenly throughout the plateau, and the ridge seemed to “sink” into them, leaving the very top, which now differs little in appearance from ancient volcanic rock outcrops. In size, perhaps. Geologists call such monoliths remnants.

The aborigines of the Anangu tribe, who have lived here since ancient times, consider the rock sacred. They gave it the name Uluru. When linguists tried to find out what this word means in translation from the language of the local population, it turned out that besides this rock itself, it does not mean anything else, but is also found among them as a human name.

But with the second name, Ayers Rock, everything is much simpler. So in honor of the then governor South Australia Henry Ayers, the mountain was named by William Goss, the British explorer who was the first European to climb the summit of Uluru and compiled detailed description rocks. And this is exactly how this miracle of nature was officially called until the 70s of the 20th century, when, after numerous appeals local residents the authorities returned the mountain to its original name.

Well, let's come closer to the rock. On its slopes you can see numerous furrows and almost round deep potholes. According to ancient Aboriginal legend, the latter are nothing more than the footprints of the giant dog Kura-Punya. She left them, approaching the camp of the hunters, who in a few minutes were themselves to become the prey of a predatory dog the size of a house.

However, the hunters were saved by a suddenly screaming kookaburra. This is an Australian bird that is also called the laughing kingfisher, because its cry resembles human laughter. And, thanks to the voice of this bird, people managed to escape from the gigantic predator. Apparently, their kookaburra is like our magpie: if anything goes wrong, it will immediately warn you.

But even the legend only explains the presence of dents on the slopes. And it still remains unclear who lined the entire rock so smoothly with parallel grooves? The depth of the furrows reaches two meters, and this relief is considered unique. However, something similar exists much closer to us - in the Ukrainian steppe, in the Kamennye Graves reserve, which was described in the previous post.

There is also something that Ayers Rock has in common with the amazing Russian landmark - Blue Stone. This is the already mentioned ability of the mountain to change color with the weather. This feature played an important role in the fact that both natural attractions have long been places of religious worship.

However, the veneration of Mount Uluru by the aborigines can also be explained from a utilitarian point of view. If we take into account the arid climate in Australia in general, and even more so in desert areas located far from the coast, it becomes clear why a mountain that provided shade and moisture began to be considered sacred.

Moreover, in the rock there are not only caves where you can immerse yourself in the coolness, but also underground lakes, fed by rainwater and springs penetrating through the cracks. And everyone knows what value water has in the desert.

Today, Ayers Rock is official Aboriginal property, leased to the authorities, for which local tribes receive 20 percent of the cost of entrance fees to the national park, plus $75,000 annually. At the same time, although the natives put up with what is happening, they still consider it sacrilege for tourists to climb to the top.

Exactly punishment higher powers they explained that in the past, curious travelers periodically fell asleep during the ascent and even fell to their death. However, today in the most dangerous places metal railings were installed, and the number of falls from the cliff was reduced to almost zero.

True, almost every year one of the tourists who set out to conquer the peak dies of a heart attack. And this can be explained mystically. But, perhaps, it is more reasonable to say that it is better not to climb for two hours under the scorching sun without minimal physical preparation, and even more so without wearing a hat that properly protects from the sun and if you have any heart problems.

And so, if you are not superstitious, you can safely rush to the top, where an unforgettable view of the endless desert opens up.

The world's largest monolithic rocks.

Monolithic rocks, described below, represent the actual unity of the stone.

In nature, on Earth, there are more grandiose rocks, but these are monoliths.

Monolith comes from the Greek word "Monolithos", consisting of the word - mono "one" and lithos "stone". Below we will talk specifically about monoliths, rocks, mountains consisting of monolithic stone.

Most monoliths in this are rock, although not every rock is a monolith. For example, Mount Augusta in Western Australia is often called a monolith, but it is actually a monocline, to be fundamentally accurate.

Below, a list of some of the largest and most interesting monoliths on the planet.

Peña de Bernal ("Bernal Peak") is Mexico's largest monolith, located in San Sebastian Bernal, a small town in the state of Querétaro. The rock rises 350 meters (1,148 ft) above the city and was formed about 100 million years ago during the Jurassic period, when it was at least three times higher than it is today.

Rock of Gibraltar or Mount Tariq, Djebel al-Tarik

Gibraltar, as a country, is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, on south coast Spain at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. The rock is 426 meters (1,396 ft) high and consists mainly of limestone. A whole species lives on the rock, the only primates in Europe - 250 Barbary macaques, of course, in a reserve.

One of the most famous landmarks in National Park Yosemite, the granite monolith El Capitan, rises nearly 910 meters (3,000 feet) vertically from the level of the park itself. The rock is a favorite place for rock climbers.

In 1958, Warren J. Harding, Wayne Merry and George Whitmore were the first to climb El Capitan using ropes, pitons and dowels.

Torres del Paine is part of a national park in the far south of the Patagonia region of Chile. Central location The park is occupied by three towers - the Payne Rocks, these are impressive granite monoliths formed under the influence of glacial ice. The highest peak of the rock is about 2,500 meters (8,200 ft).

Located in Mauritania, Ben Amera is hidden in the desert and awaits its discovery by mass tourism. According to some sources, it is the second largest monolith in the world after Uluru. Ben Amera is located 5 km from Tmeimichat - a small village in the desert on the train route between Nouadhibou and Zouerate.

The height of this monolith is 386 meters (1,267 feet) above the surrounding area. Rock - remnant ancient volcano subject to erosion. The rock is located in the Black Hills of Crook County, northeastern Wyoming, and was declared a U.S. National Monument in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. The mountain became world famous in 1977 when it was filmed nearby, starring Steven Spielberg.

Sigiriya rises 370 meters (1,214 ft) above the area. Is the basis ancient fortress. This is one of the main attractions of Sri Lanka for tourists. The Sigiriya rock is formed by a volcano that has been eroded over millions of years.

Starting around the 5th century BC, it was used as a mountain retreat-monastery and later used as a fortress for King Kashyap.

Which one is the best high rock in the world? How tall is it and where is it located?

This is Urulu Rock in Australia. The 3.6km rocky ridge rises 348m above the bush-filled valley, like a frying pan in the heart of the country, and is best seen at sunset when the rocks take on a red hue. Uluru is a place of great cultural significance for the Aborigines - Anangu and the most famous symbol of Australia. The Anangu consider it holy and forbid idle people to climb it. Since the 1940s, millions of people have visited the mountain. Most visitors really show respect for the rock. Pilgrimage to Uluru and the scramble at the summit have been an integral part of Aboriginal cults, and Aboriginal people now protest against tourists climbing to the top of this rock, a wish many respect.
Wikipedia says that Uluru#769; (Ayers Rock) is an oval-shaped rock formed about 680 million years ago. Located in the heart of Australia, 450 km from the city of Alice Springs. The height of the rock is 348 meters, the length is 3.6 km, and the width is about 3 km. The base is rugged with caves decorated with ancient rock paintings and carvings.
Ayers rock or Ayers Rock is the second name given to the stone by the white inhabitants of Australia in honor of one of their prime ministers, Sir Henry Ayers. But still, the mountain is known throughout the world by the name given to it by the aborigines of the Green Continent.
Uluru is a monolith, or boulder, or stone. And this stone is the largest in the world. From a distance, Uluru looks completely smooth, but up close, irregularities, cracks and furrows are clearly visible on the surface, after all, and 680 million years are behind us
The stone is riddled with irregularities and the harsh, sharply continental climate. Although the rock is located in the center of the desert, hurricanes hit the region every year, bringing torrential rain. The desert climate is characterized by temperature fluctuations: the nights here are cold, up to 5 C minutes, and the midday heat exceeds 30 C.
In general, tourists began to visit this place only in 1950, after the completion of the trans-Australian highway through the desert in which Uluru is located. After 20 years, the number of tourists from all over the world increased to 20 thousand per year, and today has reached half a million.
Since 1985, Uluru has officially belonged to the Anangu tribe, whose leaders, don't be fools, have leased the stone to the Australian government for a period of 99 years for use as a national park. Annual rent is $75,000 plus 20% of each entrance ticket, and let us remind you that about 500,000 of them are sold. Therefore, the aborigines are vitally interested in the development of tourism, and in accordance with the agreement, they do not even interfere with visiting the peak of Uluru, to which their sacred path leads. Unfortunately, tourists, whom the Anangu call minga (black ants), do not always behave in a civilized manner and pollute the area adjacent to Ayers Rock. High temperatures and slippery surfaces make the two-hour climb up the mountain an unsafe journey, with tourists dying here every year from falls, heart attacks and sunstroke. The aborigines hope that over time, visitors will admire their ancient mountain from the outside, without feeling the need to climb to its peak.
Himalaya, Everest peak height is about 10,000 meters.
The highest rocky cliff called Bols Pyramid is located near the island. Lord Howe in Pacific Ocean. With a height of 561 m, it is only 200 m across at the base.

10 of the most beautiful cliffs on the planet protruding from the sea.

1. Dun Briste, Ireland.
Dun Briste is an amazing rock protruding 50 meters above the sea. It is located east of Ballycastle, Ireland. This place is very popular with ornithologists, as it is convenient to observe all types of birds visiting this area.

2. Rock Parus, Crimea.
Rock Parus is the only lonely sandstone monolith along the Black Sea coast. With its shape, this rock resembles the outline of a sail. The most amazing thing about this rock is its proportions. It is only 1 meter thick, but as much as 25 meters high.

3. Old Man Hoy, Scotland, UK.
Old Man Hoy is a 137-meter cliff overlooking the island of Hoy in Scotland. The age of this rock is about 400 years.

4. Risin og Kellingin, Faroe Islands.
These two rocks are located at north coast Faroe Islands. Their name means "Giant and Witch" and comes from ancient legend. The “Giant” reaches a height of 71 meters, and the “Witch” 68 meters.

5. Ko Tapu, Thailand.
Ko Tapu is a limestone cliff about 20 meters high, located 40 meters from the northern part of the Hao Ping Islands. According to scientists, this place was previously barrier reef, but thanks to tectonic movement and erosion by wind, waves and currents, rocks like these were formed.

6. Ball's Pyramid, Australia.
Ball's Pyramid is located 20 kilometers southeast of Lord Howe Island in the Pacific Ocean. It reaches a height of 562 meters, a length of 1100 meters and only 300 meters in width. Many species of animals previously considered extinct were discovered here.

7. Kicker Rock, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Kicker Rock, also known as Sleeping Lion - enough popular place for diving on the western side of the island of San Cristobal, which lies in the eastern part of the Galapagos archipelago. This rock rises above sea level to a height of 152 meters.

8. Old Harry's Rocks, UK.
Old Harry's Cliffs are two limestone cliffs located on the Dorset coast in southern England. These rocks are constantly exposed to sea waves, due to which their shape changes over time.

9. Twelve Apostles, Australia.
The Twelve Apostles - a group of limestone rocks off the coast National Park Port Campbell in Australia. Their unique location quickly made this place a real attraction. More than 2 million tourists come here every year.

10. Three Brothers, Russia.
Three brothers - three rocks in the Sea of Okhotsk. The highest of the rocks reaches a height of 75 meters. According to local legend, three brothers turned into stone in an attempt to protect their native village from huge waves.

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