Murphy’s Haystacks_0487
This spectacular rock outcrop is located roughly 40 kilometres southeast of Streaky Bay in South Australia. It is a fine example of a geological formation know as an inselberg, or steep-sided rock that rises abruptly from a surrounding plain. Other Australian inselbergs include Uluru and Kata Tjuta as well as Wave Rock near Hyden in Western Australia (see my image No.0480).
Murphy’s Haystacks are made up of pink granite originally laid down some 1.5 billion years ago deep beneath the earth’s surface. Over time erosion removed the softer surface layers, exposing the granite outcrop which was then weathered and sculpted into its present form somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago.
Local legend has it that the outcrop acquired its name in the 19th century when a traveller, viewing the formations from a distance, mistook them for haystacks and commented on the farmer’s extraordinary ability to produce such large stacks of hay. Since the land was owned at the time by a Mr. Murphy, the rocks became known as Murphy’s Haystacks.
For a contrasting view of the Haystacks shot from a different vantage point, see my image No.0188
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high quality fine art print, please send an email to irwinreynolds@me.com.
Murphy’s Haystacks_0487
This spectacular rock outcrop is located roughly 40 kilometres southeast of Streaky Bay in South Australia. It is a fine example of a geological formation know as an inselberg, or steep-sided rock that rises abruptly from a surrounding plain. Other Australian inselbergs include Uluru and Kata Tjuta as well as Wave Rock near Hyden in Western Australia (see my image No.0480).
Murphy’s Haystacks are made up of pink granite originally laid down some 1.5 billion years ago deep beneath the earth’s surface. Over time erosion removed the softer surface layers, exposing the granite outcrop which was then weathered and sculpted into its present form somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago.
Local legend has it that the outcrop acquired its name in the 19th century when a traveller, viewing the formations from a distance, mistook them for haystacks and commented on the farmer’s extraordinary ability to produce such large stacks of hay. Since the land was owned at the time by a Mr. Murphy, the rocks became known as Murphy’s Haystacks.
For a contrasting view of the Haystacks shot from a different vantage point, see my image No.0188
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high quality fine art print, please send an email to irwinreynolds@me.com.