When we choose to take a walk in nature, we'll usually encounter
impressive and unique sites, some of which were created by geological
processes that have lasted millions of years and shaped our world as
it is today. Proof of this can be found in the form of rocks, hills
and mountains scattered around the world. With thanks to one of my
readers, I share this information with you. To view these attached
photos, key in your computer ~ the title of this article. (A few from
Canada illustrated).
And in viewing all this, I state, “We are so fortunate
to live and enjoy the Niagara
Escarpment territory in which we reside!”
Fairy Chimneys:
The region of Kapdukia in Turkey is characterized by a unique and
impressive landscape that is the product of millions of years of
natural processes. One of these were volcanic eruptions that filled
the valley's heart, cooling rapidly and then eroding over the years,
leading to unique landscape configurations that looked like tall,
narrow towers ~ or fairy chimneys.
The Stone Tree ~ Arbol
de Piedra:
It is an isolated rock located in the Eduardo Avaroa nature reserve
in Bolivia. There is one particularly prominent stone on the reserve,
named the 'stone tree' which looks like a towering 7-metre high tree.
This unique stone has received its current shape as a result of
strong sand-bearing winds that have carved it over the years.
Kjeragbolten
is a huge round rock located on Mount Kjerag in western Norway. This
special rock is stuck in a narrow crevice at a height of 1,000 metres
directly above the Lysefjorden, making it a place frequented by many
travellers who choose to take unforgettable pictures standing atop
it, despite completely rational fears of very long drops.
Landscape Arch
is one of the longest arches in the world and is located in Arches
National Park, Utah, United States. As benefits its name, this park
has a variety of arches, but the most impressive of them is Landscape
which can be reached via a very light walk.
Giant's Causeway
is a geological site north of Bushmills, Northern Ireland. The site,
declared a UNESC:O World Heritage Site in 1986, is a very popular
destination for tourists in this area, as everyone is impressed by
the 40,000 basalt columns in this area that make it up. The
Causeway's development is being dated by researchers about 60
million years back when volcanic eruptions formed tholeiitic basalt
from which the pillars are made.
Balanced Rock
is
a unique natural phenomenon that many people find difficult to
explain to this day. This special rock is in the Garden of the Gods
near Colorado, United States ~ a region of enormous red rocks that
rise to impressive heights. This particular rock will fall at some
point due to erosion or other weather damage, so it is best to see it
now.
The Balancing Column:
Another unique rock can be found near the town of Digby in Nova
Scotia, Canada. Its unique natural phenomenon dates back thousands of
years ago and is a beautiful example of the amazing basalt
formations in the region. This impressive rock is about 10 metres
high and has been in place for a long time despite the environmental
effects and the weather.
Fly Geyser:
In 1916, a farmer at the Fly Farm in the state of Nevada, United
States, dug a deep well and forgot to seal its bottom. The well water
warmed up and that's how this famous geyser was created. Over the
years, limestone and stalacites formed around the remains of the
well, creating the impressive red mountain.
Torghatten
is a 258-metre mountain in northwestern Norway and is known for the
hole at its centre ~ and is said to be the hat of a king. The hole in
the mountain was created during the Scandinavian ice age as a result
of ice and water games ~ but according to the Nordic legend, it was
created by a troll chasing a beautiful maiden and when he could not
reach her, he shot an arrow whose path was thwarted by the king of
trolls.
The Abandoned Salt
Mine of Yekaterinburg:
Deep underground, about 200 metres below this industrial city in
Russia, is a particularly impressive abandoned salt mine. The mine
was found by a young photographer named Mikhail Mishainik, who
discovered very impressive underground mirrors created by the
accumulation of layers of salts and natural minerals, which gave the
mine a psychedelic and impresssive appearance.
The Niagara
Escarpment
Stretching 725 kilometres (450 miles) from Queenston on the Niagara
River to Tobermory at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario's
Niagara Escarpment is a natural wonder and one of Canada's foremost
scenic landforms. The Escarpment continues into New York State to the
south as well on Manitoulin Island to Ontario's north and Wisconsin,
US to the west.
Nearly half a billion years ago,
this whole region was covered by ancient shallow seas.The Niagara
Escarpment contains the fossilized remains of the life forms which
lived in those seas. It is a magnificent fossil record of some of
the first life on our planet. It took more than 30 million years to
form.
Since then, the Niagara Escarpment has seen three ice ages, the last
of which ended approximately 14,000 years ago. Erosion from the
ancient waters and glacial recession in this last ice age, carved the
Escarpment into what we see today. Melting glaciers flowed over the
escarpment face in rivers much greater than the Niagara is today ~
carving out valleys and even spitting off entire sections such as the
Milton Outlier (Rattlesnake Point/Kelso). The Escarpment will look
much different at the end of the next Ice Age!
Today, the Escarpment soars 1,772 feet above sea level at its highest
point.
Within
Ontario, in Simcoe County along the north rim of the Pretty River
Valley, is a varied tapestry of forests, farms, recreation areas,
scenic panoramas, cliffs, streams, wetlands, rolling hills,
waterfalls, mineral sources, wildlife habitats, historic sites,
villages, towns and cities. Over 7 million live within 100
kilometres of this Giant's
Rib!
The
Niagara Escarpment is home to the Bruce
Trail
established in 1967:
the oldest and longest hiking trail in Canada that is enjoyed by
nearly 500,000 people every year.
The Escarpment is an incredibly rich habitat for wildlife.
In
1990, it was designated as a World
Biosphere Reserve by
UNESCO
(the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization).
Ontario's
Niagara
Escarpment
is one of only 16 biosphere reserves in Canada ~ and is part of a
network of 631 reserves in 119 countries, putting it in the company
of such incredible natural areas as the Serengeti...the
Everglades...the
Amazon
Rain Forest...
Yellowstone
National Park
and the Galapagos
Islands.
The
700-kilometre-long-biosphere contains more endangered species than
any other part of Canada: containing more than 300 bird
species...1500 species of vascular plants (50 species of ferns)... 53
mammals...36 reptiles and amphibians...90 fish...and 100 varieties of
special interest flora including 37 types of wild orchids. 72% of all
Ontario bird species can be found here. Considered endangered,
threatened or vulnerable
include Bald
Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Black Tern, Louisiana Waterthrush and
Hooded Warbler.
Writer: Merle Baird-Kerr...February 3, 2019
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