The face of the Earth is constantly changing under the influence of various factors: water, wind, human actions, volcanic eruptions, meteorite strikes. Sometimes this leads to the appearance of amazing geological formations. We have selected seven of the most unusual ones.
1. Gates of Hell (Darvaza), Turkmenistan
In 1971, while drilling an exploration well near the village of Darvazy, a large piece of land collapsed - 60 meters in diameter and 20 meters deep. An oil rig and all equipment fell into the hole, which turned out to be filled with gas. In order to protect the people of the nearby city from harmful gases, it was decided to set them on fire. According to scientists, the flame should have gone out within a few days.
The geologists' calculations turned out to be wrong, and a huge bonfire burns to this day.
2. Chocolate Hills, Philippines
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This unusual geological formation is located on the Philippine island of Bohol. On an area of 50 square kilometers, there are about 1,500 grass-covered hills. In summer, the grass dries up and turns brown - chocolate - in color.
There are several versions of the appearance of these hills. Some scientists believe that this is the result of volcanic activity, others - that it is the consequences of the erosion of the bottom of the ancient ocean.
The locals believe that the hills are the result of a battle between two giants who threw stones and sand at each other.
Chocolate Hills is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Giant's Causeway, Ireland
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Giant's Causeway, or the Giant's Trail, in Northern Ireland. The coastal strip consists of 40,000 basalt columns formed as a result of the volcanic eruption. Most of these columns are hexagonal. The highest of them reaches 12 meters.
The process of formation of these columns can be compared with the appearance of cracks in drying mud: molten basalt, which appeared during a volcanic eruption, rapidly cooled down, which caused a rapid reduction in its volume and the appearance of a characteristic structure. Scientists from Canada were even able to calculate the conditions necessary for the appearance of such columns. To do this, the researchers experimented with common cornstarch. It turned out that the faster the substance cools, the smaller the size of the cells into which the surface cracks.
4. Structure of Richat, Mauritania
The diameter of this geological formation is about 50 kilometers, which makes it possible to see it even from space. For some time, astronauts even used it as a reference point: the structure is located in the middle of the Sahara - a lifeless desert.
Previously, it was believed that the structure is the result of a meteorite impact, but now scientists are inclined to the version that the formation appeared under the influence of erosion.
5. Wave, USA
A unique geological formation known as the Volna is located in the United States, on the border of the states of Utah and Arizona. Unusual formations are composed of Jurassic sandstone, they are about 200 million years old. Affected by water and wind, the sandstone has acquired unusual shapes that now attract tourists from all over the world.
The natural monument is strictly protected by the government. To prevent destruction of the fragile structure of the Wave, the flow of tourists is strictly limited to 20 people per day.
6. Crystal Cave, Mexico
At a depth of 300 meters under the Mexican city of Nike is a horseshoe-shaped cave. It is completely filled with selenite crystals. The dimensions of the formations reach 11 meters. The largest of them weighs about 11 tons. It is very hot in the cave (up to +58) and humid - 80–100%.
The crystal formation process is simple: for hundreds of thousands of years, magma in the cavity under the cave heated the water saturated with minerals to a temperature of + 54 … + 58, that is, it created ideal conditions for the formation of such crystals. Unfortunately, now the water from the cave is constantly pumped out, which leads to the degradation of the formations.
7. Great Blue Hole, Belize
In the center of one of the atolls that make up the Belize Barrier Reef, there is a huge karst sinkhole.
Its diameter is 305 meters and its depth is 120 meters.
According to scientists, this formation appeared after the last ice age: water flooded a limestone cave, and its vault collapsed, forming a karst funnel.