Amazing Geological Phenomena
With a diameter of around 112 m (367 ft) and a depth of 37 m (121 ft), the Grand Prismatic Spring is known the world over for its brilliant colours. This hot spring gets its unusual colouring from various species of thermophiles, one of the most ancient life forms on earth.
Heated by magma, water in the Grand Prismatic Spring reaches temperatures between 70 °C and 87 °C (158 °F and 189 °F). It is hottest in the middle.
This site is not named the Gates of Hell for nothing. Located in Turkmenistan's Karakum desert, this gigantic crater has been burning since 1971.
The site was not actually created by the devil. In fact, Soviet geologists discovered a gas pocket when drilling for oil. To avoid poisoning the local population with the gas they had released, they set fire to it. The only issue is that the fire hasn’t yet gone out.
Located on the border between Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana, Mount Roraima is a tepui, or table-top mountain. It is the most famous mountain of its kind. Tepuis are the remnants of an immense sandstone plateau that once covered the region. Over time, they have eroded into gigantic, sculptural monuments.
At 2,772 m (9,094 ft) high, Mount Roraima is the highest summit in Guyana and the source of several rivers.
Discovered in 1875, the Mariana Trench is the deepest point on Earth. This 11,034 m (36,201 ft) deep ocean trench is located south of Japan, where the Pacific Plate thrusts beneath the Mariana Plate. The meeting of these two tectonic plates lies at the origin of this amazing phenomenon, which is still something of a mystery.
The Great Blue Hole is a sinkhole measuring 300 m (984 ft) across. At its dark-blue centre is a 125 m (410 ft) deep chasm. Barely any light reaches the bottom, and there is very little oxygen. However, in 2018, scientists made a surprising discovery… plastic bottles!
Antelope Canyon is one of the most fascinating slot canyons in the world. Made up of two gorges, it was carved out over thousands of years by rainfall, erosion, and flash floods. Legend has it that the site was only discovered during the Great Depression by a young Navajo girl who was tending to her animals.
Only discovered in 2000, the Naica mine is one of the world's most interesting geological phenomena. The cave is made up of gigantic gypsum crystals measuring over 10 m (33 ft) long.
Thousands of years of high heat and humidity fostered the formation of these extraordinary crystals.
Over the past few years the Grand Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been one of the most visited national parks in the USA. At 446 km (277 miles) long and 29 km (18 miles) wide at points, the site was shaped by the Colorado River as well as ancient water courses millions of years ago.
The Grand Canyon has interested geologists for a long time. Some of its rocks date back 2 billion years!
Spanning over 10,500 km2 (4,054 mi.2), the Uyuni Salt Flats are the largest salt flats in the world, containing 10 billion tonnes (11 billion tons) of salt. This fascinating site was created when an ancient lake, Lake Minchin, dried up several thousand years ago.
On certain days, a thin layer of water covers the area, turning it into the largest mirror in the world.
Featured on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites, Turkey's Pamukkale (Turkish for “cotton castle”) encompasses 17 hot springs, some of which reach temperatures over 45 °C (113 °F).
Known since in antiquity, this site was created as carbon dioxide was released from evaporating water and calcium carbonate deposits hardened on the hillsides.
China Danxia was formed by various processes, including tectonic uplift, weather, and erosion.
This magnificent region, included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, is made up of conglomerates and red sandstone in various shapes (such as peaks, stacks, and cliffs).
In 2010, a huge hole appeared in Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala, during tropical storm Agatha. At 60 m (196 ft) deep and 30 m (98 ft) across, the hole swallowed a three-storey building.
According to experts, this phenomenon may be entirely due to human activity. Several leaks in underground piping may be what caused this huge hole to appear.
Located in the northern Urals, Russia, the Seven Giants of the Urals (or Manpupuner rock formations) comprise seven strangely shaped stone pillars, measuring between 30 m and 42 m (98 ft and 138 ft) tall. Made of quartz, these natural monuments are the remains of an ancient mountain range and have since been sculpted by rain, ice, and wind.
Also known as the Eye of Africa or the Eye of the Sahara, the Richat Structure is an immense, circular, geological formation measuring 50 km (31 miles) across. Resembling a giant eye, this striking geological marvel is the result of a rare volcanic phenomenon, involving large quantities of magma and hot water, that occurred 100 million years ago.
nice post
ReplyDelete