List of places with columnar jointed volcanics
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.
![](../I/BasaltColumns_PortoSanto.JPG.webp)
Notable columnar jointed volcanics
Africa
- Bugarama in Rusizi, Rwanda Columnar jointing in Rusizi district, Nzahaha Sector. This may have formed from contractional cooling of basaltic lavas.
- Foreke Quarry, Foreke Dachang, Cameroon
- Ikom Columnar Basalt in Cross River State, Nigeria [1]
- Numan, Nigeria[2]
- "Organ Pipes" near Twyfelfontein, Namibia[3]
- Rochester Falls, Mauritius
- Seliana, Tunisia
- Isle de la Madeleine, Dakar, Senegal
South Asia
- India
In India, columnars 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.
![](../I/Interlocked_basaltic_columns_at_of_Kavadia_mountain.jpg.webp)
- Karnataka
- St. Mary's Island columnars near Malpe in Udupi district of Karnataka state.[4]
- Kavadia Pahad columnars: 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.[5]
- Linga columnars: 11km south of Chhindwara city.
- Narsinghpur columnar joints in Deccan Basalts near Narsinghpur.
- Bandivade columnars: found at Bandivade village bear Panhala in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.[6]
- Gilbert Hill columnars in Andheri suburb of Mumbai in Maharashtra.
- Manmad columnars
- Muktagiri columnars jointing in basalt lava flows of Muktagiri section in Amravati district.
- Adilabad district columnars.[7]
- Borilalguda columnars: Found on a small hillock inside the reserve forest of Borilalguda village in Kerameri tehsil of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district.[8]
- Medak district columnars.[7]
- Nizamabad district columnars.[7]
- Rangareddy district columnars.[7]
West Asia
- Armenia
- Turkey
![](../I/Boyabat.jpg.webp)
- Basalt Rocks Natural Monument, Boyabat, Sinop Province,[9] Turkey
Middle East
- Iran
- Maku, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran
- Mount Damavand, Iran
- Sarbisheh, Iran
- Syria / Israel (disputed)
- Meshushim River (Hexagons River), Hexagons pool, Golan Heights,
![](../I/6-4012-102_-_Meshushim_(Hexagons)_and_the_river_from_up_-_%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%A9%D7%99_%D7%94%D7%91%D7%96%D7%9C%D7%AA_%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%97%D7%9C_%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%9D_%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%9C%D7%94.jpg.webp)
East Asia
- China
- 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.
- 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
- 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
![](../I/Cape_Stolbchaty.jpg.webp)
- Mongolia
- Kharandaa Khad in Taishir district, on Zavkhan River
- Russia
- South Korea
- Jusangjeolli, Seogwipo, Jeju Island, South Korea
Southeast Asia
- Indonesia
![](../I/Situs_Megalitikum_Gunung_Padang%252C_Cianjur_-_panoramio_(11).jpg.webp)
![](../I/Gunung_Padang_Scenery.jpg.webp)
- Gunung Padang Megalithic Site in West Java is also a manmade archaeological site.
- Malaysia
![](../I/Basalt_Columns_.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Teck_Guan_Cocoa_Village_Columnar_Basalt.jpg.webp)
- Philippines
- 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[14]
- Vietnam
![](../I/G%C3%A0nh_%C4%90%C3%A1_%C4%90%C4%A9a.jpg.webp)
- Da Dia Cliff (13.354154°N 109.293812°E) — 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) (Vietnamese: Hòn Yến)- An Hòa Village, Tuy An District, Phú Yên Province
- Vuc Hom Fall (13.196571°N 109.150737°E) (Vietnamese: Thác Vực Hồm) - An Lĩnh Village, Tuy An District, Phú Yên Province
- Vuc Song Fall (13.185074°N 109.149796°E) (Vietnamese: Thác Vực Song) - An Lĩnh Village, Tuy An District, Phú Yên Province
- Battle Fall (14.334100°N 108.680464°E) (Vietnamese: Thác Dơi) - Vĩnh Sơn Village, Vĩnh Thạnh District, Bình Định Province
- Takon Citadel (14.305230°N 108.703357°E) (Vietnamese: Thành đá Tà Kơn) - K8 (old name: Kon Blò), Vĩnh Sơn Village, Vĩnh Thạnh District, Bình Định Province
![](../I/La_Concepci%C3%B3n%252C_Aculco.jpg.webp)
Central America
- El Salvador
- Cascada Los Tercios, Suchitoto
- Concepción waterfall, Aculco
- Panama
- Los Ladrillos, Boquete
- Costa Rica
- Bajo Rodriguez, San Lorenzo de San Ramon
Europe
![](../I/Giants-causeway-in-ireland.jpg.webp)
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
Germany
Greenland
- Qeqertarsuaq, Disko Island[15]
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
Italy
- Alcantara River Gorges, Sicily
- Cyclopean Isles, Sicily
- Motta Sant'Anastasia neck, Sicily
- Lake Bolsena, Lazio
- Seiser Alm, South Tyrol
![](../I/Ponta_da_Ajuda%252C_Azores.jpg.webp)
Portugal
- Rocha dos Bordões cliffs, Flores, Azores
- Pico de Ana Ferreira, Porto Santo[16]
- Penedo do Lexim, Mafra
- Ponta da Ajuda, Fenais da Ajuda, São Miguel island Ilha de São Miguel, Azores
Sardinia
- Cuccureddu de Zeppara, Guspini
- Capu Nieddu, Cuglieri
- Is Aruttas Santas, Villaurbana
Slovakia
- Šomoška
Spain
- Punta Baja, Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, Andalusia
- Castellfollit de la Roca, Girona
- Fruiz, Biscay[17]
- Pitón volcánico de Cancarix, Albacete
- Los Órganos, La Gomera, Canary Islands[18]
United Kingdom
- Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
- The islands of Canna, Eigg, and Muck, Scotland
- Cullernose Point, near Craster, Northumberland, England[19]
- 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[20]
- Ulva, Scotland
- Cave Dale, Castleton, Peak District
Other
- Panská skála, Kamenický Šenov, Czech Republic[21]
- Zlatý vrch, Česká Kamenice, Czech Republic
- Sioni, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia
- Milos, Greece
![](../I/Milos_basalts.JPG.webp)
- Coloanele de bazalt de la Racoș, Romania
- Thunderstruck Rocks (Detunatele), Romania
- Bazaltove, Ukraine
North America
![](../I/Orgues_du_pain_de_sucre.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Columnar_Basalt_Devil's_Postpile_California.JPG.webp)
![](../I/Crook_County%252C_WY%252C_USA_-_panoramio_(14).jpg.webp)
- 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
Caribbean
United States
- 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[22][23]
- Devils Postpile National Monument, California
- Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming
- 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)
- Palisades Sill, New Jersey and New York, along the Hudson River
- Paul Bunyan's Woodpile, Juab County, Utah[24]
- Sheepeater Cliff & multiple other areas in Yellowstone National Park
- Hemlock Falls, First Watchung Mountain,[25] South Mountain Reservation, South Orange, New Jersey
- Spokane, Washington (W Airport Dr. onramp)
- Stanford Rock, Lake Tahoe, California
- Sweetwater Canyon, Madison County, Montana
- Turtleback Mountain, Moultonborough, New Hampshire
- Whatcom County, Washington[26]
Mexico
![](../I/Basalt_columns_in_the_Mascota_River%252C_Mexico.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Prismas_Bas%C3%A1lticos%252C_Huasca_de_Ocampo%252C_Hidalgo%252C_M%C3%A9xico%252C_2013-10-10%252C_DD_06.JPG.webp)
- Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla in Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo
- Salto de San Anton in Cuernavaca, Morelos[27]
- Flor De La Vida Retreat in Mascota, Jalisco
Oceania
![](../I/CAPE_RAOUL_-_TASMAN_NATIONAL_PARK.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Columnar_basalt%252C_Blackhead%252C_New_Zealand.jpg.webp)
- 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.[28] NSW
- Sawn Rocks, Mount Kaputar National Park, New South Wales[29]
- Glass House Mountains, Queensland
- Burleigh Head National Park, Queensland
- Mount Scoria Conservation Park, Thangool, Queensland[30]
- Ben Lomond National Park, Tasmania
- Cape Raoul, Tasmania
- Ruined Castle, Falls Creek, Victoria[31]
- Organ Pipes National Park, Victoria
- Barfold Gorge, Campaspe River, Victoria
- Black Point, D'Entrecasteaux National Park, Western Australia
- Wyalup-Rocky Point, Bunbury, Western Australia[32]
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Pwisehn Malek, Pohnpei, Caroline Islands
- New Zealand
- Blackhead and Second Beach, Dunedin[33]
- Chatham Islands
- The Organ Pipes, Mount Cargill, Dunedin[34]
- Mt Somers[35]
- Bridal Veil Falls, Raglan
South America
- Ancud Volcanic Complex, Chile
- Mocho Volcano, Chile
- Pino Hachado Caldera, Neuquén Province, Argentina
- Pedras do Cambira, Apucarana, Brazil
Mars
![](../I/Martevallis_hir_2007304_lrgMod1.png.webp)
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).
Uses
![](../I/Gunung_Padang_5th_terrace.jpeg.webp)
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.
Gallery
- Engraving of a basalt formation; from: Alberto Fortis, Della valle vulcanico-marina di Roncà nel territorio veronese (1778)
- Basalt rocks near Detunata Goală east of Bucium, Romania
- Basalt rocks on the Hirtstein in the Ore Mountains
- The Bühren Organ Pipes
- Basalt columns of Porto Santo, Archipelago of Madeira
- Garni Gorge, Armenia
See also
References
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- Ntekim, E. E. & Adekeye, J. I. D. (2003). "Petrography and geochemistry of basaltic rocks from the northcentral part of Yola Basin, N.E. Nigeria" (PDF). Nigerian Journal of Pure and Applied Science. 18: 1430–1437. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
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- "Greenstone lava flows - National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park, Learn About the Park". NPS.gov. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- "GeoSights: Paul Bunyan's Woodpile, Juab County – Utah Geological Survey". geology.utah.gov. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
- Geology of the New York City Regions
- File:Columnar basalt.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)
- "México Travel Club". www.mexicotravelclub.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- "Merriwa NSW Free Rest Areas". highwaytraveller.com.au.
- "Sawn Rocks, Mount Kaputar National Park" (PDF). NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- Mount Scoria culture
- Ruined Castle - Panoramio
- "Bunbury Basalt". Western Australian Museum. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- "Black Head : Vegetation Condition After Quarrying" (PDF). Doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- "New Zealand Tramper - A community for good, keen trampers and hikers". Tramper.nz. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- The Pinnacles, Mt Somers on flickr
- "Mars and Earth: Columnar Jointing". Earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 10 June 2009.