Columnar jointing of volcanic rocks exists in many places on Earth. Perhaps the most famous basalt lava flow in the world is the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, in which the vertical joints form polygonal columns and give the impression of having been artificially constructed.
Notable columnar jointed volcanics
Africa Foreke Quarry, Foreke Dachang, Cameroon Ikom Columnar Basalt in Cross River State, Nigeria Numan, Nigeria "Organ Pipes" near Twyfelfontein, Namibia Rochester Falls, Mauritius Îles de la Madeleine, Senegal Lalibela, Ethiopia
Asia
Armenia Garni Gorge, Armenia Near Saint Sarkis Cathedral, Yerevan, Armenia
China (mainland) Heiyuhe Columnar Joints (黑鱼河柱状节理) [Xianrenqiao (仙人桥)], Longchuan River (龙川江) & Black Fish River, Tengchong
Hong Kong Basalt Island area, Hong Kong; including High Island Reservoir area, Hong Kong; although the High Island Reservoir is not basalt but rhyolitic tuff, rich in potash feldspar and quartz phenocrysts.
India
In India, columnar jointed volcanic rocks are found in several places across the volcanic traps such as 6.5 crore or 65 million years ago (Mya) old deccan traps in South India and 14.5 crore or 145 mya old Rajmahal Traps in Eastern India.
Karnataka St. Mary's Island near Malpe in Udupi district of Karnataka state. Madhya Pradesh Kavadia Pahad: Forest area near Bagli & Pipari village of Dewas District in Madhya Pradesh. The rock formation is at Kavadia Pahad which is a series of seven mountain ranges. Linga: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of Chhindwara city. near Narsinghpur in Deccan Basalts. Maharashtra Bandivade: found at Bandivade village bear Panhala in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. Gilbert Hill in Andheri suburb of Mumbai in Maharashtra Manmad Muktagiri in basalt lava flows of Muktagiri section in Amravati district Telangana Adilabad district Borilalguda: Found on a small hillock inside the reserve forest of Borilalguda village in Kerameri tehsil of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district. Medak district Nizamabad district Rangareddy district
Indonesia
Gunung Padang in West Java is also a manmade archaeological site. Gunung Kelud in East Java has basalt columns visible south of the crater lake (Wanajay peak).
Iran Maku, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran Mount Damavand, Iran Sarbisheh, Iran
Syria Wadi al-Hawa (Hexagons River), Hexagons pool, Golan Heights, Quneitra Governorate
Japan Natsudomari Peninsula, Hiranai, Aomori Kawazu 7 waterfalls area, Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Tōjinbō, Mikuni, Fukui Genbudō, Toyooka, Hyōgo Takachiho-kyo gorge, Takachiho, Miyazaki Keya no Oto, Itoshima, Fukuoka Tatami-ishi, Kumejima, Okinawa
Malaysia
In Teck Guan Cocoa Village and in Giram River, Kampung Balung Cocos Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia.
Mongolia Kharandaa Khad in Taishir district, on Zavkhan River
Philippines Dunsulan Falls in Mount Samat, Pilar, Bataan Bulingan Falls in Lamitan, Basilan
Russia Chukchi Peninsula in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Cape Stolbchatiy, Kuril Islands, Russia
South Korea Jusangjeolli, Seogwipo, Jeju Island, South Korea Daljeon-ri Columnar Joint, Pohang, South Korea
Taiwan Tongpan Basalt (桶盤玄武岩石柱), Tongpan Island and Hujing Island (Table island, 虎井嶼), Penghu Islands The Whale Cave, on the seashore, in Penghu County
Thailand Mon Hin Kong (Thai: ม่อนหินกอง), in a mountainous area of the Phi Pan Nam Range near Na Phun, Wang Chin District, Phrae Province, Thailand
Turkey
Basalt Rocks Natural Monument, Boyabat, Sinop Province,
Vietnam
Da Dia Cliff (13.354154°N 109.293812°E / 13.354154; 109.293812) — The Cliff of Stone Plates (Vietnamese: Gành Đá Đĩa), An Ninh Đông Village, Tuy An District, Phú Yên Province, Vietnam Yen Islet (13.225638°N 109.308770°E / 13.225638; 109.308770) (Vietnamese: Hòn Yến)- An Hòa Village, Tuy An District, Phú Yên Province Vuc Hom Fall (13.196571°N 109.150737°E / 13.196571; 109.150737) (Vietnamese: Thác Vực Hồm) - An Lĩnh Village, Tuy An District, Phú Yên Province Vuc Song Fall (13.185074°N 109.149796°E / 13.185074; 109.149796) (Vietnamese: Thác Vực Song) - An Lĩnh Village, Tuy An District, Phú Yên Province Battle Fall (14.334100°N 108.680464°E / 14.334100; 108.680464) (Vietnamese: Thác Dơi) - Vĩnh Sơn Village, Vĩnh Thạnh District, Bình Định Province Takon Citadel (14.305230°N 108.703357°E / 14.305230; 108.703357) (Vietnamese: Thành đá Tà Kơn) - K8 (old name: Kon Blò), Vĩnh Sơn Village, Vĩnh Thạnh District, Bình Định Province
Europe
Croatia Rupnica, Papuk Nature Park UNESCO Global Geopark
Czech Republic Panská skála, Kamenický Šenov, Czech Republic Zlatý vrch, Česká Kamenice, Czech Republic
Faroe Islands Froðba, Hov Hvalba and Trongisvágur, Suðuroy
France Thueyts, Jaujac and Fabras, Ardèche Saint-Flour, Cantal Chilhac Saint-Arcons Prades Saint-Clément Moulin-Béraud La Tour-d'Auvergne Bort-les-Orgues Scandola Nature Reserve, Corsica
Georgia Sioni, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia
Germany Linz am Rhein, Mendig, Mayen, Rhineland-Palatinate Hoher Hagen (Dransfeld), Lower Saxony Rhön, North Bavaria Stolpen, Saxony Hainewalde, Saxony, Phonolite columns Scharfenstein, Hesse Weiselberg, Saarland
Great Britain The islands of Canna, Eigg, and Muck, Scotland Cullernose Point, near Craster, Northumberland, England The northern part of the Isle of Skye, Scotland The Isle of Mull and the nearby beach of Morvern, Scotland Samson's ribs, Scotland Fingal's Cave and Staffa, Scotland Pen Anglas, Pembrokeshire, Wales Ulva, Scotland Cave Dale, Castleton, Peak District Dunbar Harbour
Greece Milos, Greece
Hungary Badacsony Bér Szanda Szilváskő Hegyestű Szent-György-hegy Gulács Haláp Hajagos Uzsa
Iceland Aldeyjarfoss, Þingeyjarsveit Borgarvirki Dverghamrar, Kirkjubæjarklaustur Gerðuberg Hellnahraun near Arnarstapi, Snæfellsbær Hljóðaklettar, Jökulsárgljúfur Kirkjugólf, Kirkjubæjarklaustur Kálfshamarsvík, Austur-Húnavatnssýsla Litlanesfoss, Fljótsdalshreppur Reynisdrangar and Reynisfjara, Vík í Mýrdal Stuðlagil, East of Iceland Svartifoss, Skaftafell
Northern Ireland Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
Italy Alcantara River Gorges, Sicily Capu Nieddu, Cuglieri, Sardinia Cuccureddu de Zeppara, Guspini, Sardinia Is Aruttas Santas, Villaurbana, Sardinia Cyclopean Isles, Sicily Motta Sant'Anastasia neck, Sicily The thrown stones, Lazio
Portugal Rocha dos Bordões cliffs, Flores, Azores Pico de Ana Ferreira, Porto Santo Penedo do Lexim, Mafra Ponta da Ajuda, Fenais da Ajuda, São Miguel island Ilha de São Miguel, Azores
Romania Coloanele de bazalt de la Racoș, Romania Thunderstruck Rocks (Detunatele), Romania
Slovakia Šomoška rock waterfall
Spain Punta Baja, Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, Andalusia Castellfollit de la Roca, Girona Fruiz, Biscay Pitón volcánico de Cancarix, Albacete Los Órganos, La Gomera, Canary Islands
Sweden Central Skåne Volcanic Province, Sweden
Ukraine Bazaltove
North and Central America
Canada North Mountain, Nova Scotia Grand Manan Island (western shorelines), New Brunswick Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, British Columbia Cardiff Mountain, Chilcotin Plateau, British Columbia Keremeos Columns, Keremeos, British Columbia Aberdeen Columns, Lavington, British Columbia Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia (Moul Falls, Dragon's Tongue, Helmcken Falls) Mount Edziza volcanic complex, British Columbia Level Mountain, British Columbia Teapot Mountain, Prince George, British Columbia Kelowna, British Columbia (Mount Boucherie, Spion Kopje) Devils Woodpile, British Columbia (Cathedral Provincial Park) Tow Hill, British Columbia Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec Simpson Island, Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, Rossport, Ontario Miles Canyon, Whitehorse, Yukon
Costa Rica Bajo Rodriguez, San Lorenzo de San Ramon
El Salvador Cascada Los Tercios, Suchitoto Concepción waterfall, Aculco
Greenland Qeqertarsuaq, Disko Island
Guadeloupe Pain de sucre (sugar loaf) Îles des Saintes, Guadeloupe
Guatemala Chicovix, Quetzaltenango Department
Mexico Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla in Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo Salto de San Anton in Cuernavaca, Morelos Flor De La Vida Retreat in Mascota, Jalisco
Panama Los Ladrillos, Boquete
United States Akun Island, Alaska 54.1374618°N 165.6120578°W / 54.1374618; -165.6120578 Block Mountain, Montana (along the lower Big Hole River) Boiling Pots, Hilo, Hawaii (exposed by the Wailuku River) Cascade Range, Oregon, in Eugene and southeast of Molalla Columbia Plateau, Washington Columns of the Giants, Stanislaus National Forest, California Compton Peak in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia Devils Postpile National Monument, California Drumheller Channels National Natural Landmark, Washington Elk River Falls, Idaho Hughes Mountain, Missouri Hyalite Falls, Gallatin Mountain Range, Montana Whiterock Canyon, New Mexico, various cliffs and mesas from Otowi to Cochiti. Latourell Falls, Oregon Mount Tom, Massachusetts Machado Postpile, Amador County, California Paul Bunyan's Woodpile, Juab County, Utah Pinnacle Peak, King County, Washington Sheepeater Cliff & multiple other areas in Yellowstone National Park Hemlock Falls, First Watchung Mountain, South Mountain Reservation, South Orange, New Jersey South Puyallup River Campsite, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington Spokane, Washington (W Airport Dr. onramp) Stanford Rock, Lake Tahoe, California Sweetwater Canyon, Madison County, Montana Toketee Falls, Oregon Turtleback Mountain, Moultonborough, New Hampshire Whatcom County, Washington
Oceania
Australia Bombo Latite, Bombo, New South Wales Narooma Basalt, Narooma, New South Wales Fingal Head, New South Wales Battery Rock Rest Area, Located on the Golden Highway, 15 kilometres southeast of Merriwa and 19 kilometres northwest of Sandy Hollow on the western side of the highway. NSW Sawn Rocks, Mount Kaputar National Park, New South Wales Glass House Mountains, Queensland Burleigh Head National Park, Queensland Mount Scoria Conservation Park, Thangool, Queensland Ben Lomond National Park, Tasmania Cape Raoul, Tasmania Ruined Castle, Falls Creek, Victoria Organ Pipes National Park, Victoria Barfold Gorge, Campaspe River, Victoria Black Point, D'Entrecasteaux National Park, Western Australia Wyalup-Rocky Point, Bunbury, Western Australia
Federated States of Micronesia Pwisehn Malek, Pohnpei, Caroline Islands
New Zealand Blackhead, Dunedin 45°55′55″S 170°25′55″E Bridal Veil Falls, Raglan 37°54′30″S 174°53′45″E Mt Eden Quarry, Auckland, New Zealand Normandy Road, Mt Eden. Ohira Bay, Chatham Islands 43°48′20″S 176°38′55″W The Organ Pipes, Mount Cargill, Dunedin 45°48′30″S 170°34′00″E Paratahi Island, Auckland 36°59′41″S 174°28′13″E Second Beach, Dunedin 45°55′00″S 170°29′05″E Mount Somers / Te Kiekie, Canterbury 43°36′30″S 171°22′30″E Western Springs Quarry, Auckland 859 Great North Rd, Auckland.
South America Ancud Volcanic Complex, Chile Las Columnas de Tangán, Ecuador Mocho Volcano, Chile Pino Hachado Caldera, Neuquén Province, Argentina Pedras do Cambira, Apucarana, Brazil
Beyond Earth
Several exposures of columnar jointing have been discovered on the planet Mars by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera, which is carried by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). Notable among them are formations in the Marte Vallis.
Uses
A likely Hindu-origin ancient site at Gunung Padang in West Java, Indonesia was built by horizontally laying basalt columns to form terraces on the slope of a hill and creating open-roofed chambers by erecting vertical columns. A now-ruined thirteenth-century religious complex called Nan Madol was built using columnar basalt quarried from various locations on the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia.
Hexagonal basalt was used to build retaining walls by early settlers in some places around Dunedin in New Zealand.
Gallery
See also Ringing rocks
References