The most amazing balancing rocks in the world

Top 10 most balanced middle rocks in the world

1. Kummakivi Rock, Finland

The 7m Kummakivi Rock in Finland, balanced on top of another rock. The bottom slab has a smooth, curved surface that sinks into the soil. Surprisingly, there is only a very small point of contact between the two rocks.

According to Finnish folklore, "Hissi", a type of giant, laid these rocks. According to geologists, the retreat of the ice led to the creation of these rocks, about 12,000 years ago.

2. Basalt column, Canada

This 9m-long vertical columnar basalt overlooks the Gulf of St. Mary in Nova Scotia (Canada). To see this huge rock, one needs to go through a 2.5 km long trail and 235 steps of stairs. About 200 million years ago, during the Triassic, molten rock formed from deep within the Earth and spread across the surface.

This phenomenon split the supercontinent Pangea and opened up the Atlantic Ocean. As the hot lava cooled, weathering and erosion resulted in many columnar basalt structures, like the one in the Gulf of St. Mary.

3. Sandstone, USA

This nearly 290-million-year-old, nearly 700-ton red sandstone is symbolic of the Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs. Its formation began when the liquid form of sedimentary sandstone erupted from the Earth's interior. In the Garden of the Gods, there are two rocks side by side. They create a natural, welcoming entrance to tourists.

The durability of this stone has been tested by time, especially during earthquakes. The researchers photographed the rock and built 3D models that could simulate an earthquake with the shaking needed to topple it. The results show that high-intensity earthquakes are less frequent than previously estimated.

4. Idol, England

Brimham Rocks is an amazing assemblage of sandstone rocks in North Yorkshire, England. One of those rocks is Idol Rock, also known as 'Druid's Idol' or 'Druid's Writing Desk', which is nearly 4.5m tall and weighs 200 tons. This massive structure sits atop a small pyramidal base.

For years, locals believed this masterpiece was carved by the ancient British. However, studies have proven that to be wrong. This is the result of nature.

5. Krishna's Butterball, India

A giant rock 6m high and weighing about 250 tons stands on a 4m high base on a slippery hill, located in Tamil Nadu, India. It is part of the 'Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram' which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name 'Krishna's Butterball' is derived from the Hindu god, Krishna. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna once stole butter from his mother's vessel called 'Handi'. The shape of this rock is quite similar to "Handi".

This balancing rock is also known as 'Vaanirai Kal' in Tamil, and that means 'Stone of the Gods of Heaven'. The back top of the rock has been eroded. Interestingly, the rock still has a rounded shape from every angle except for the upper part of the back. In the past, many kings tried to move the rock but failed.

6. Pinnacle Platform, USA

Pinnacle is a giant sandstone rock that rises above the surrounding terrain in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona. It is a popular destination and a favorite photo spot for tourists. About 27 million years ago, a huge volcanic eruption released a thick, hot white layer of ash.

It then cooled and solidified into a hard layer, creating a nearly 609m block of black volcanic ash, with a high silica and pumice content. Slowly with erosion, those rocks transform into interesting shapes.

7. The Arches Rock, USA

At 29m high and weighing 3,600 tons, the Arches is one of the most fascinating 'sculptures' of Arches National Park. It is made up of two different rocks. The upper red rock is the Entrada sandstone, and the second rock is part of the Caramel system, made up of mudstone.

Mudstone wears away much faster than sandstone. Geologists suggest that the softer base from the mudstone will disintegrate, and that this balanced rock may one day fall due to erosion. A similar incident happened in 1975 when a nearby rock known as the "Chip-Off-the-Old-Block" fell.

8. Chiremba Rock, Zimbabwe

The Chiremba rocks are giant blocks of granite lying on top of each other, forming interesting shapes. These rocks were classified as national monuments in 1994. According to the official website of the monument, these stones symbolize peace and stability of the national economy, depicted in the leaflets. old Zimbabwean money.

Billions of years ago, magma formed in the Earth's crust and was forced to the surface. As it cools slowly and solidifies, it forms a hard crystalline rock, like granite. Granite in Chiremba is known for its hardness, especially compared to sedimentary rocks such as sandstone or mudstone. Due to the significantly softer, the erosion process will continue, there is a high chance these stones will be worn away.

9. Golden Rock, Myanmar

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, also known as "Golden Rock", is a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site in Myanmar. The Golden Rock has a diameter of 25m, located on the edge of a hill 914m high; The temple is on a rock about 7m high. This huge rock is completely independent of the base, has a very small contact area with the base. The entire rock is inlaid with gold leaf, creating an attractive and sacred look.

A strong belief attached to this temple is that anyone who makes pilgrimage to this temple three times in a year will be blessed with prosperity, recognition and respect. According to one of the legends, only women can push the rock and throw it down. So, according to the regulations of the temple, no woman is allowed to touch that rock.

10. Haida Gwaii Rock, Canada

The rock at Haida Gwaii is right next to the ocean that has been attracting tourists for decades. The amazing thing is that the big waves have not been able to move the rock yet. Although there is no evidence, it may have been formed by glacial retreat.

According to Dan Gibson, Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, the rock's center of gravity is centered precisely on the point of contact with the underlying rock, creating a seemingly unbreakable bond. . Because that rock is so large and heavy, the mass of that rock and its center of gravity create such a high force of contact friction that it becomes a very stable and difficult object to move. Gravity merely 'glues' it to the rock below.