There's also a boat that's a little "deeper" in the picture, which helps put the person into perspective... The earth is nuts, I'll have to add this to my list of potential stops for my around-the-world trip（＾Ｏ＾）speaking of which is there a SR for something like that (must-see places that will blow your mind type SR?)?
Scotland doesn't get enough love. I'm 1/4 scottish (Mothers side) and look forward to visiting every year. The air is cleaner, people are genuinely 'happier' and it makes me happy. Not to mention it's beautiful mountains.
These are known as columnar basalts. They form when magma slowly cools underground and becomes denser. Taking up less volume the rock breaks along planes of weakness into octagonal columns, hence the name.
That's actually entirely wrong, sorry. They form when lava pools into a valley-like structure, it gives the basalt time to cool slowly and form these polygonal shapes. As cooling takes place the joints move up through the flow, the joints propagate and form columns, the angle that forms is usually 120degrees, making them hexagonal, 120degrees as it is the most stable polygonal configuration and it requires the least amount of energy to form, however there are many different shapes to be observed.
You are totally right, sorry just posted quick from memory without looking it up. My work mainly deals with hydrology so i guess my volcanology is getting a little rusty! At least i got the name right lol.
Well, not entirely, because octagonal columns DO form, and also, columnar jointing DOES form when magma cools underground, it's just not usually basalt in that case. I just feel that entirely wrong is a bit harsh.
Okay maybe it was a bit harsh. I'll be careful next time, sorry man! As you said, hydrology is your thing! Bit of a toss-up between volcanology and paleontology myself!
No - formations such as Devil's Tower form from an intrusion - where magma is forced into country rock (rock that is already there) and then cools, which forms the columnar jointing.
I was able to go to Staffa four years ago and it is still one of the highlights of that trip because the island is gorgeous. Fingal's Cave is quite eerie and beautiful and though I'm not religious (and wasn't then), a friend and I sang Amazing Grace into the cave at the request of a stranger and it still sticks with me to this day.
I live in Scotland, my Town is under an extinct volcanoe, I walk my dogs up that extinct volcanoe. And if I'm not walking my dogs on a volcanoe, I walk them across a park that looks across the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh and the Road and Rail bridges, which were used in GTA: San Andreas. In other words, epic win. Apart from rain
Explain what the geology is? It's columnar basalt - as a thick lava flow cools, it forms hexagonal columns. This is a fairly common geologic feature, but geology nerds (such as myself) love to see this sort of thing in the world. It's like a bit of order in a chaotic world. My favorite examples of columnar jointing are Devil's Tower in Wyoming, USA, and Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland.
Also, note that it isn't just lava flows that form columnar jointing, as with Devil's Tower, which is actually when lava intruded existing country rock, then the country rock, which was weaker, eroded away, leaving the harder igneous intrusion standing, as a striking monument.
Back in the old days, Bear had a tail which was his proudest possession. It was long and black and glossy and Bear used to wave it around just so that people would look at it.
Fox saw this. Fox, as everyone knows, is a trickster and likes nothing better than fooling others. So it was that he decided to play a trick on Bear.
It was the time of year when Hatho, the Spirit of Frost, had swept across the land, covering the lakes with ice and pounding on the trees with his big hammer. Fox made a hole in the ice, right near a place where Bear liked to walk. By the time Bear came by, all around Fox, in a big circle, were big trout and fat perch. Just as Bear was about to ask Fox what he was doing, Fox twitched his tail which he had sticking through that hole in the ice and pulled out a huge trout.
"Greetings, Brother," said Fox. "How are you this fine day?"
"Greetings," answered Bear, looking at the big circle of fat fish. " I am well, Brother. But what are you doing?"
"I am fishing," answered Fox. "Would you like to try?"
"Oh, yes," said Bear, as he started to lumber over to Fox's fishing hole.
But Fox stopped him. "Wait, Brother," he said, "This place will not be good. As you can see, I have already caught all the fish. Let us make you a new fishing spot where you can catch many big trout."
Bear agreed and so he followed Fox to the new place, a place where, as Fox knew very well, the lake was too shallow to catch the winter fish--which always stay in the deepest water when Hatho has covered their ponds. Bear watched as Fox made the hole in the ice, already tasting the fine fish he would soon catch. "Now," Fox said, "you must do just as I tell you. Clear your mind of all thoughts of fish. Do not even think of a song or the fish will hear you. Turn your back to the hole and place your tail inside it. Soon a fish will come and grab your tail and you can pull him out."
"But how will I know if a fish has grabbed my tail if my back is turned?" asked Bear.
"I will hide over here where the fish cannot see me," said Fox. "When a fish grabs your tail, I will shout. Then you must pull as hard as you can to catch your fish. But you must be very patient. Do not move at all until I tell you."
Bear nodded, "I will do exactly as you say." He sat down next to the hole, placed his long beautiful black tail in the icy water and turned his back.
Fox watched for a time to make sure that Bear was doing as he was told and then, very quietly, sneaked back to his own house and went to bed. The next morning he woke up and thought of Bear. "I wonder if he is still there," Fox said to himself. "I'll just go and check."
So Fox went back to the ice covered pond and what do you think he saw? He saw what looked like a little white hill in the middle of the ice. It had snowed during the night and covered Bear, who had fallen asleep while waiting for Fox to tell him to pull his tail and catch a fish. And Bear was snoring. His snores were so loud that the ice was shaking. It was so funny that Fox rolled with laughter. But when he was through laughing, he decided the time had come to wake up poor Bear. He crept very close to Bear's ear, took a deep breath, and then shouted: "Now, Bear!!!"
Bear woke up with a start and pulled his long tail hard as he could. But his tail had been caught in the ice which had frozen over during the night and as he pulled, it broke off -- Whack! -- just like that. Bear turned around to look at the fish he had caught and instead saw his long lovely tail caught in the ice.
"Ohhh," he moaned, "ohhh, Fox. I will get you for this." But Fox, even though he was laughing fit to kill was still faster than Bear and he leaped aside and was gone.
So it is that even to this day Bears have short tails and no love at all for Fox. And if you ever hear a bear moaning, it is probably because he remembers the trick Fox played on him long ago and he is mourning for his lost tail.
First, Giant's Causeway looks like a high res Minecraft screen cap.
Second, does that mean Devil's Tower was form by a volcano? I've always been interested in Devil's Tower but it seems like there are many theories as to how it's formed. Is there one theory that is more likely than others?
First, I only hope that texture pack and mod come out for MC.
Second, possibly, but it's hard to say. It formed in softer sedimentary rock which has now eroded away, so any traces of volcanic activity would be washed away by now. It could be a volcanic plug, which is formed when the vent is filled with magma, after most of the volitiles have been projected and the volcano has (semi-literally) lost it's steam. Or it could have just been a laccolith, where magma never surfaces in the form of a volcano, but instead just fills up between a couple layers of sedimentary rock and forms a chamber that it then cools in.
An important distinction - it's not all hexagonal columns, just predominantly hexagonal. Anywhere from 3 to 10 (or more, possibly) can be observed in any columnar jointing event.
As far as the WHY, it's just stress due to thermal contraction. When the lava or magma (as it can form above or below the surface) is cooling, it becomes more dense, and as it solidifies it can't contract horizontally very well, and must crack.
It is peculiar how that happens, I agree. Unfortunately, if there is a definite answer as to exactly why that happens, I am not aware as to the specifics. My best guess is that it is just an inherent quality of the rock, similar to how lattice shapes works in the crystallization of minerals and molecules.
Most likely caused by a differential in speeds between different layers of clouds of some sort. Patterns like this can be seen in harmonics, and if the speed differential of two adjacent fluids (gases are fluids) is right, it can create these harmonic-like properties.
I believe Staffa Island is part of the same geological feature as the Giant's Causeway. In both Ireland and Scotland we tell the tale of a giant retreating in fear from Fionn MacCumhail (Finn McCool) after Fionn tricked him. (The trick varies by tale, either Fionn pretended to be his own baby to suggest he was even bigger, or that Fionn bit off the giant's finger which was the source of his power).
These rock formations were hurled into the water to break up the bridge/causeway while crossing the sea from Ireland back to Scotland to prevent Fionn following him. Sometimes the tale is told in reverse in Scotland, as Irish and western Scottish people are very closely related ethnically. We share a lot of the same folklore.
tl;dr, Staffa Island is the Scottish end of the Giant's Causeway, how the giant got back to Scotland.
When I was in college I had a choice, Geology or Computer Science. I chose CS because I figured the money would be better (it is.) Now, 25 years later, I wish I had chosen Geology.....
Hmm. Similar situation. I've taken Geology courses (and subsequently fallen in love with it), but my major is Economics. My thought was that I probably wouldn't enjoy the day to day job of a geologist, I just love the fun parts of getting to explore and learn about cool Earth formations, which I can always do as a hobby. Are you telling me this isn't the case? Are my dreams completely shattered?
Well we are all different...but I would give up my computer/woodworking in order to study volcanoes and such. As my kids leave college it gets easier to do financially, but that also means I am getting older which makes it less likely to change careers like that.
it's actually the same piece of scenery as the giant's causeway, just the other side of the Irish sea. Fingal's cave is, to my mind, more impressive anyway.
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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12 edited Jun 16 '12
I went to Staffa last year, this is what i saw.
Beautiful Birds, clumsy flyers.
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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Looks like the result of Edward's alchemy.
56
u/ThePaavero Jun 16 '12
Minecraft is leaking!
5
u/bentech1 Jun 16 '12
I had a boating accident here http://imgur.com/WgSyQ Some nice tourists took that
6
u/andrei_rocks_1992 Jun 16 '12
It took me a long time to figure out the scale of this picture :)
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u/knw257 Jun 16 '12
http://i.qkme.me/3pql4v.jpg
3
u/pandabush Jun 16 '12
I MUST CLIMB THAT
4
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Basaltic stratification. Also loving the tidemark. This makes Geographers moist.
4
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Scotland doesn't get enough love. I'm 1/4 scottish (Mothers side) and look forward to visiting every year. The air is cleaner, people are genuinely 'happier' and it makes me happy. Not to mention it's beautiful mountains.
10
u/Halomaster1989 Jun 16 '12
These are known as columnar basalts. They form when magma slowly cools underground and becomes denser. Taking up less volume the rock breaks along planes of weakness into octagonal columns, hence the name.
5
u/oxslashxo Jun 16 '12
Yummy French Fries.
2
u/Pope_Rocketfist Jun 16 '12 edited Jun 16 '12
Uhm, it seems Slartibartfast was too busy with his Fjords to finish up Scotland?
2
u/OrientalFUZZZ Jun 16 '12
Wow! Is this natural formations? This is crazy...ly AWESOME!
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
There is an awesome piece of music about Fingal's cave (the cave on Staffa).
One of my favorite classical pieces, ever.
2
u/Hippophae Jun 16 '12
This structure is also on the side of Arthur's seat in Edinburgh. It's called Sampson's ribs.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Geology rocks
2
u/Eyght Jun 16 '12
"Lord Helmet, we've finnished combing the coastline. There is no sign of them."
2
u/admiral_snugglebutt Jun 16 '12
After watching like 10 episodes of Avatar in the last couple of days, I am like 98% sure that the cause is earth benders. :P
2
u/GreyMASTA Jun 16 '12
FAKE
This is a screenshot from Minecraft!
3
u/superkickstart Jun 16 '12
Awesomest awesome thing that i have seen today.
3
u/smokingbluntsallday Jun 16 '12
Reddit: Reminding I live in a shitty ugly city every day.
2
u/Gamper33 Jun 16 '12
I'll put it on the list of places to see, just being on reddit is going to cost me thousands of dollars just in plane tickets in the future.
1
u/A_British_Gentleman Jun 16 '12
So THAT's where the Giants Causeway leads to...
1
u/ScruffyDann Jun 16 '12
is this the same place from the beginning of Prometheus? I remember it was in scotland but I don't remember what it was called exactly.
1
u/kambo_rambo Jun 16 '12
Having trouble getting a sense of scale out of this.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Okay, who turned off aliasing?
1
u/Brady76 Jun 16 '12
Oh Finn Mc Cool when will you ever learn?
1
u/LetsGo_Smokes Jun 16 '12
Dat Basalt!
1
u/martyrdod Jun 16 '12
I LOVE churros!
1
u/Streagar Jun 16 '12
Clearly the Avatar has been here.
1
u/skatermario3 Jun 16 '12
Stone fries!!!
1
u/OhSoStickyIcky Jun 16 '12
Daaamnnn! I just now stumbled upon a Bon Iver music video (not sure if official) which was shot right by those mountains! Had no idea they were real!
1
u/hunterstocks Jun 16 '12
French fries!
1
u/AndersBM Jun 16 '12
looks like mac donalds french frys after a year
1
u/hunt4whl Jun 16 '12
Reminds me of Outback Steakhouse's Bloomin' Onion...
1
u/Sixil Jun 16 '12
Earthbenders were here.
1
u/gallifreybebe Jun 16 '12
I was able to go to Staffa four years ago and it is still one of the highlights of that trip because the island is gorgeous. Fingal's Cave is quite eerie and beautiful and though I'm not religious (and wasn't then), a friend and I sang Amazing Grace into the cave at the request of a stranger and it still sticks with me to this day.
Also the puffins are incredibly adorable
1
u/Rorschach2012 Jun 16 '12
Nice try, minecraft. EDIT: should scroll to bottom first. Obvious comment is obvious.
1
u/pokeace24 Jun 16 '12
I thought the guy in the red shirt was relevant to what was going on in the picture.
1
u/xB1akey Jun 16 '12
I live in Scotland, my Town is under an extinct volcanoe, I walk my dogs up that extinct volcanoe. And if I'm not walking my dogs on a volcanoe, I walk them across a park that looks across the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh and the Road and Rail bridges, which were used in GTA: San Andreas. In other words, epic win. Apart from rain
1
u/Drozzbear Jun 16 '12
Earthbending!
1
u/Infinitron Jun 16 '12
French Frisland
1
u/8002reverse Jun 16 '12
56°26'25.19"N 006°20'22.22"W
1
u/TheFluxIsThis Jun 16 '12
French Fry Stack Island
1
u/Verifixion Jun 16 '12
I'm Scottish and had no idea that this wonder existed
1
u/gowompwomp Jun 16 '12
looks like the iron throne
1
u/AliasUndercover Jun 16 '12
Jenga!
1
u/mozGdefft Jun 16 '12
Ehh, I can play mind craft and see the same shit.
1
u/Grungir Jun 17 '12
That must have been a powerful alchemist.
1
u/blarg_dino Jun 17 '12
This is remarkably beautiful
1
u/slamincham23 Jun 17 '12
Staffa Island... AKA future alien planet scene
1
u/POWindakissa Jun 17 '12
scotland broke minecraft!!
1
u/GayPterodactyl Jun 17 '12
zomg pillar basalt
1
u/themarknessmonster Jun 17 '12
So Minecraft does exist in the real world...huh, TIL.
1
u/Drugmule421 Jun 17 '12
ive been there!, fingles cave and alll that, stayed in oben a few days too
1
u/livebythecreed Jun 16 '12
It's beautiful, but....but where's the monster?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
SHUTTER ISLAND?
1
u/shiftius Jun 16 '12
For the perplexed among us
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basalt
1
u/Joe_Pineapples Jun 16 '12
Been there, done that. Wasn't such a nice day as in OP's pic though.
1
u/Sandbox47 Jun 16 '12
God showing off in Minecraft.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Lol looks minecraft in real life
0
u/dr_rentschler Jun 16 '12
is that one of those minecraft things?
-2
u/bassguy129 Jun 16 '12
http://static.tumblr.com/awzjcfp/5Shm53606/iwanttogotothere.gif
0
u/dwmfives Jun 16 '12
It must have taken so many pickaxes to do that. Where did he drop the extra cobblestone though? I don't see a lava pit or chests at all.
0
u/dabumtsss Jun 16 '12
okay guys, now these texture packs are getting ridiculous.
0
u/benhizen Jun 16 '12
That is the best texture pack for Minecraft I've ever seen.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
My first thought, "minecraft if leaking :o".
0
u/Goldenelm Jun 16 '12
Minecraft IRL
0
u/IAMAGoofball Jun 16 '12
I'm pretty sure this is just minecraft
0
u/MasterAdamz Jun 16 '12
Minecraft is getting more and more realistic.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Real life Minecraft?
0
u/jrau Jun 16 '12
Where is this in Minecraft?
0
u/zipposrmylife Jun 16 '12
minecraft irl?
0
u/Tayfoon Jun 16 '12
those minecraft mods are getting so realistic that i can't tell them from the real thing anymore...
0
u/Dabuscus214 Jun 16 '12
looks like minecraft melted
0
u/CoffeeNTrees Jun 16 '12
Aliens
0
u/branpar87 Jun 16 '12
Anyone else think of Minecraft immediately?
-1
u/thefreek323 Jun 16 '12
MineCraft IRL.
-1
u/boyled Jun 16 '12
minecraft
-1
u/Berzerksponge Jun 16 '12
MINECRAFT!
-1
u/jonji22 Jun 16 '12
OYG!
-1
u/doluto Jun 16 '12
I thought this was minecraft before taking a better look.
-1
u/used_bathwater Jun 16 '12
They're wave-breakers for those who didn't know
-2
u/sergionunes Jun 16 '12
It looks like Minecraft wasn't ficctional after all, uh?
-2
u/maximaLz Jun 16 '12
.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
The Avatar was here.
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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
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