A
balancing rock is a naturally occurring geological formation featuring a
large rock or boulder, sometimes of substantial size, resting on other
rocks that often look precariously balanced. In reality, these rocks
only appear to be balancing but are in fact firmly connected to a base
rock by a pedestal or stem.
Here are some famous balancing rocks of the world.
Balanced Rock, Utah
Balanced
Rock is one of the most popular features of Arches National Park,
situated in Utah, United States. It is located next to the park's main
road, at about 9 miles from the park entrance.
The
total height of Balanced Rock is about 39 m, with the balancing rock
rising 16.75 m above the base. The big rock on top is the size of three
school buses. Until recently, Balanced Rock had a companion - a similar,
but much smaller balanced rock named "Chip Off The Old Block", which
fell during the winter of 1975/1976.
Balanced Rock, Colorado
This
balanced rock is located in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. It is easily accessible by paved road and is a popular spot
for tourist photography.
Balancing Rock, Digby, Nova Scotia
The
Balancing Rock in St. Mary's Bay on Long Island, Nova Scotia seems to
defy gravity as it stands on its end at the edge of the rock below. The 9
meter high column of rock is attached by two small
sections with a gap between that you can look through.
Idol Rock, Brimham Moor
Many
curious rock formations are scattered over 50 acres on Brimham Moor.
One of them is the Idol Rock precariously balanced on top of a smaller
rock. The rocks
eroded by water, glaciation and wind, have taken amazing shapes. Many
of the formations suggest all manner of things, including elephants,
hippos, bears, and mushrooms.
Mushroom Rock, Kansas
Mushroom
Rock State Park, located in the Smoky Hills region of Kansas, is noted
for its mushroom rock formations. These rocks were formed through a
process of nonuniform erosion and weathering in which a hard mass of
Dakota Sandstone resisted erosion while the underlying softer stone
weathered away, forming a "mushroom" shape. There are two mushrooms and
a giant shoe rock, as well as numerous other rock formations in the
park.
Chiremba Balancing Rocks, Zimbabwe
The
Chiremba Balancing Rocks is located 13 km southeast of
Harare in Epworth. Although strange balancing rocks are found all over
Zimbabwe, this particular one became famous after being featured in Zimbabwean currency.
The Balancing Rocks have been used as a metaphorical theme to explain
the importance of development coupled with preserving the fragile
environment of Zimbabwe as similar to that of the Balancing Rocks found
in Epworth, Matopos and in other areas.
Mexican Hat, Utah
The
Mexican Hat rock formation is located on
Highway 163, 24 miles west of Bluff, in Utah. The name "Mexican Hat"
comes from a curiously sombrero-shaped, 60-foot wide by 12-foot thick
rock outcropping on the northeast edge of town.
Devils Marbles, Australia
The
Devils Marbles are amongst the most famous Australian rocks, located
south of Tennant Creek area of Northern Territory. These huge, red,
rounded granite boulders vary in size, from 50 cm up to six metres
across, and they are strewn across a large area. Many of them seem
impossibly balanced on top of each other.
Kjeragbolten, Norway
Kjeragbolten
is a massive 5 cubic meter boulder wedged in to a crevasse on the edge
of the Kjerag mountain in Lysefjorden, Norway. The block of stone is
suspended 984 meter above the deep abyss. Despite its impressive
appearance, it is easily accessible on foot without any special
equipment. The whole of Kjerag mountain is a popular hiking area, and
Kjeragbolten is a favorite photo spot.
Golden Rock, Burma
The
Golden Rock (Kyaik-htiyo or Kyaiktiyo), perched atop a cliff near
Yangon, is one of the most sacred sites in Burma. According to legend,
the Golden Rock itself is precariously perched on a strand of the
Buddha's hair. The rock seems to defy gravity, as it perpetually appears
to be on the verge of rolling down the hill. At the top of the rock is
built a small pagoda and covered with gold leaves pasted on by devotees.
A glimpse of the "gravity defying" Golden Rock is believed to be enough
of an inspiration for any person to turn to Buddhism.
