Rocky landscape with outcrop of stone pillars
Iceland,  Landscape,  Ten photos

Around the world in ten photos: day nine

A real-life geology lesson

These hexagonal pillars look more man-made than natural. They are quite regular in size, creating the impression that they were somehow manufactured. In a sense they were, but by nature rather than man.

Margaret of From Pyrenees to Pennines and Teresa of My Camera & I have both invited me to join them and other bloggers to post one favourite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation, then each day, nominate someone new to join in on the same terms. I don’t usually post a single photo on my blog; I like to tell a story. But for this challenge I’ll resist that temptation and instead play a guessing game with you all. So, does anyone know where this landscape can be seen?

Rocky landscape with outcrop of stone pillars

And the answer is, the basalt column cliffs of Gerðuberg, on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. Its hexagonal pillars are quite regular in size, mostly twelve to fourteen metres high and about one and a half metres in diameter. The basalt was formerly lava flowing from a volcano; which was rapidly cooled when it met the sea and formed these even shapes as a result.

I realise not everyone likes to be nominated for this sort of thing so I’m not nominating any more people. But if anyone else would like to join in the fun, please link back to this post as I’d love to see your photos!

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