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Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Utah is famed for its many dramatic, rocky monuments, but the hoodoos of Silent City in Bryce Canyon National Park might be its most amazing sight. Seen from the ridge of Sunset Point, a maze of razor sharp rocks and fins rise up from the valley floor.
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The hoodoos owe their unusual structure to patches of hard rock over a pile of softer rock. As rain fell, it eroded everything but the thin stack underneath the harder rock. The native tribes of the area, however, understood them to be the petrified remains of evil people.
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Balanced Rock and Steamship Rock, Colorado, USA
Not to be outdone, the neighbouring state of Colorado has its own rocky landmarks in the so-called Garden of the Gods. This pair of formations, Balanced Rock and Steamship Rock, has been a tourist landmark since the early twentieth century.
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ll 700 tonnes of Balanced Rock have been standing here for at least a few million years. Over the years, people have wondered if, or when, it's likely to fall. Thankfully, it's thought to remain here for many more generations.
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Old Man of Storr, Scotland
The wild western coasts of Scotland are known across the world for their rough, rugged ancient volcanic peaks. On the Isle of Skye, stands the Old Man of Storr, a single stone 50m, or 164 feet, tall. Its easy to see how the rock got its name, given its lumpy, lonely silhouette.
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After the age of the dinosaurs, this area of Scotland became a volcanic wasteland. Eruptions laid down lava, the weight of which eventually crushed the older, softer rock below, causing landslides which formed the ridge of Storr and left the Old Man standing alone.
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Preikestolen, Norway
The Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, rises 600 metres above the icy waters of Lysefjorden, in Rogaland county, Norway. Its sheer drop and perfectly flat top make it a popular tourist sight and offer its visitors the chance to take an unbelievable photograph.
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In winter, the fjord is often covered in a sea of mist, lending the view an unparalleled air of romance and mystery.
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Uluru, Australia
Very close to the geographic heart of Australia is an unbelievable sight. Rising out of the bush and breaking the clean line of the horizon is a rock that draws all eyes to it. This is Uluru, one of the most important aboriginal sites on the continent and an icon of Australia.
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Its colour appears to change over the course of the year, the months, and the days. At sunset and sunrise, it glows an awe inspiring rust red. In the land all around Uluru can be found lifegiving springs and waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings.
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Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock, New Zealand
Off the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand is this perfectly split boulder. Named Tokangawhā by the Maori and Split Apple Rock by the English, this wonder of nature can be reached by just a short swim.
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A natural join in the boulder, and the pounding action of the waves, allowed it to split right down the middle. The Maori myth tells of two gods who fought over possession of the rock. To resolve their fight, they simply split the rock in two with their bare hands.
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Over the centuries, the rock has been decorated with a layer of gold leaf pasted on by devoted pilgrims. The climb to reach this religious sanctuary is tough, but spiritually, and mentally, rewarding.
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Pont d'Arc, France
The Pont d'Arc may be one of the most famous natural sights in all of Europe. Rising above the Loire river in southern France, the Pont d'Arc welcomes visitors from the old north into the sunny Mediterranean.
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We know that humans have probably marvelled at this natural monument for millennia. Only a short walk away is the world-famous Chauvet Cave, where some of the earliest art in all of Europe has been found - dating back to the last ice age, around 30,000BCE.
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Devil's Tower, Wyoming
Climbing up into the clouds, its easy to see why early travellers named this ominous rock stack Devil's Tower. In fact, it did rise from the fiery depths. 66 million years ago, a pool of magma pushed up beneath the sea floor. As it cooled, it formed vertical pillars.
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This imposing igneous tower has inspired all sorts of myths and legends, as well as attempts to scale its sheer sides. Today, it's one of the most popular climbs in the United States. Rising 120 metres above the Wyoming wilderness, the views from the top are breathtaking.
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The Wave, Arizona
This isn't a digital render, it's real. The smooth sandstone canyon of The Wave was carved by the ceaseless action of water and wind. At first, runoff seeped into cracks in the bedrock, widening them, then gusts cut deep troughs in the soft rock.
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The Wave is such a special site that you need a permit to visit, and only a handful are released each year. The result is a quiet, almost deserted space to sit, relax, and think about the wonders of nature.
