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Another example of the columnar basalt that can be commonly seen in Iceland. This exposure is at the Hestheimar farm & guesthouse near Hella.
Tula, Pyramid B, atlantes
Tula is a Mesoamerican archeological site, which was an important regional center which reached its height as the capital of the Toltec Empire between the fall of Teotihuacan and the rise of Tenochtitlan. It has not been well studied in comparison to these other two sites, and disputes remain as to its political system, area of influence and its relations with contemporary Mesoamerican cities, especially with Chichen Itza. The site is located in the city of Tula de Allende in the Tula Valley, in what is now the southwest of the Mexican state of Hidalgo, northwest of Mexico City. The archeological site consists of a museum, remains of an earlier settlement called Tula Chico as well as the main ceremonial site called Tula Grande. The main attraction is the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl which is topped by four, four metre high basalt columns carved in the shape of Toltec warriors. Tula fell around 1150, but it had significant influence in the following Aztec Empire, with its history written about heavily in myth. The feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl is linked to this city, whose worship was widespread from central Mexico to Central America at the time the Spanish arrived.
The Tula site is important to the history of Mesoamerica, especially the central highlands of Mexico, but it is generally overshadowed by its predecessor Teotihuacan and one of its successors, Tenochtitlan. The name Tula is derived from the Nahuatl phrase Tollan Xicocotitlan, which means 'near the cattails'. However, the Aztecs applied the term Tollan to mean 'urban center', and it was also used to indicate other sites such as Teotihuacan, Cholula and Tenochtitlan. The inhabitants of Tula were called Toltecs, but that term was later broadened to mean an urban person, artisan or skilled worker. This was due to the high respect in which the indigenous peoples in the Valley of Mexico held the ancient civilization before the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
The modern archeological site is about 2000 meters above sea level and includes the ceremonial center of Tula Grande, and an area called Tula Chico. The city is aligned at 17 degrees east of true north, similar to structures at Teotihuacan although the first village was aligned with true north between 700-900CE. The ceremonial center of the city is located on a limestone outcropping, with steep banks on three sides, making it defensible. War and sacrifice are prominent themes at the site with images representing warriors such as jaguars and coyotes as well as eagles eating human hearts. There are also images of serpents eating skeletal figures and skulls in various areas. The main structures of the ceremonial center include two pyramids, including the one with the atlas figures, two main Mesoamerican ballcourts and several large buildings, one with a series of columns which faced a large plaza. The main ceremonial area has a number of architectural innovations that indicate societal changes. The large central plaza has space for 100,000 people. On three sides, there are long meeting halls with ceilings supported by columns all facing the plaza with over 1000 meters of benches, which have stone reliefs depicting warriors and others in procession. The architecture indicates a change from rituals performed by only a few people in closed spaces to large ceremonies to be viewed by many. These ceremonies were dominated by warriors.
The major attraction of the site is Pyramid B also called the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl or of the Morning Star. It is a five-tiered structure similar to the Temple of the Warriors at Chichen Itza. At the top of Pyramid B are four massive columns each carved in the likeness of Toltec warriors which once supported the roof of the temple on top of the pyramid. Each warrior figure is of basalt, four meters high, with an atlatl or spear thrower, incense, a butterfly shaped chest plate and a back plate in the shape of a solar disk. A large vestibule fronts the pyramid and connects it to nearby buildings. Today this vestibule and building (Building C) are a space filled with broken columns. Building C is better known as the Burnt Palace named after evidence that it was burned. This pyramid is also surrounded by the Coatepantli or serpent wall, which was later the inspiration for a similar structure in Tenochtitlan.
(source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tula_%28Mesoamerican_site%29)
Kirkjugolfid, The Church Floor; east of Kirkjubaejarklaustur village, Iceland
The basalt columns were formed when lava cooled and contracted, cracking the rock. When this happened, the lava broke apart evenly, creating the distinctive hexagonal shape.
What this waterfall lacks in size it more than makes up for in character. The pronounced dark basaltic cliffs not only helped to give the waterfall its name (translated as "Black Falls"), but it also inspired Icelandic architecture on some of its most famous buildings like the Halgrimskirkja in Reykjavik. On top of that, a visit to this Icelandic wonder also yields up to three more waterfall sightings as well as a short walk to the terminus of a glacier!
(World of Waterfalls)
Reynisdrangar are basalt sea stacks situated under the mountain Reynisfjall near the village Vík í Mýrdal, southern Iceland. more info under www.timvollmer.de
Just before returning home from London I travelled with Ryan and Adam to Ireland where we took a whirlwind wind tour accross about three quarters of the small, unique, and fascinating country. We spent one night in Dublin and then drove north to the small town of Shepards Bush. On the coast and a few miles from Shepards Bush is The Giants Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Giant's Causeway (known in Irish as Clochán an Aifir or Clochán na bhFómharach) is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides.
A very worthwhile trip if you are ever in the country.
Large eruptions of basalt lava may create deep flows of molten rock. As the rock slowly cools it shrinks slightly. The stresses cause jointing in several different planes, and columns of rock form with a generally hexagonal shape, like pencils.
(About.com)
Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking, mostly hexagonal basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption during the Tertiary, some 50–60 million years ago. This site has been studied for 300 years and greatly influenced the beginnings of the discipline of geology.
It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills.
Stuðlagil is a section of the canyon that the river Jökulsá á Brú flows through in the Jökuldalur Glacier Valley, and that contains Icelands largest collection of basalt columns. It is 500 m long and contains 20-30 m basalt columns on both sides of the river. The canyon is very picturesque with blue/green water in the river flowing through it. Access to the canyon from both north (250 m walk from Grund farm) and south (10 km roundtrip hike from Hákonarstaði farm) sides is off Road 923.
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Svartifoss (Black Fall) is among the most renowned waterfalls of Iceland despite its small volume of water.
The narrow strand of water framed with dark and long basaltic columns in the horse shoe shaped gorge is very impressive.
The waterfall is in Skaftafell National Park in Iceland, and is one of the most popular sights in the park. It is surrounded by dark lava columns, which give rise to its name. The hexagonal columns were formed inside a lava flow which cooled extremely slowly, giving rise to crystallization. Similar well-known lava formations are seen at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, and on the island of Staffa in Scotland.
The base of this waterfall is noteworthy for its sharp rocks. New hexagonal column sections break off faster than the falling water wears down the edges.
These basalt columns have provided inspiration for Icelandic architects, most visibly in the Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík, and also the National Theatre.
Cited from:
www.nat.is/travelguideeng/plofin_svartifoss.htm
and:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svartifoss
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Kirkjugolfid, The Church Floor; east of Kirkjubaejarklaustur village, Iceland
The basalt columns were formed when lava cooled and contracted, cracking the rock. When this happened, the lava broke apart evenly, creating the distinctive hexagonal shape.
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Evening light from the setting sun catches the hexagonal basalt columns.
New photo from Malcolm Thornton Photography: These hexagonal like tiles look every bit as if they were man-made, but they are a completely natural phenomena. Kirkjugólfið or ‘The Church Floor’, is an 80 m² expanse of columnar basalt stone slabs which have been eroded and shaped by glaciers and waves.. Posted via 500px ift.tt/2NqnyPr
Stuðlagil is a section of the canyon that the river Jökulsá á Brú flows through in the Jökuldalur Glacier Valley, and that contains Icelands largest collection of basalt columns. It is 500 m long and contains 20-30 m basalt columns on both sides of the river. The canyon is very picturesque with blue/green water in the river flowing through it. Access to the canyon from both north (250 m walk from Grund farm) and south (10 km roundtrip hike from Hákonarstaði farm) sides is off Road 923.
Waves at Dyrholaey, near Vik in southern Iceland. The previous year there was a sandy beach below this ridge of rocks.
Stuðlagil is a section of the canyon that the river Jökulsá á Brú flows through in the Jökuldalur Glacier Valley, and that contains Icelands largest collection of basalt columns. It is 500 m long and contains 20-30 m basalt columns on both sides of the river. The canyon is very picturesque with blue/green water in the river flowing through it. Access to the canyon from both north (250 m walk from Grund farm) and south (10 km roundtrip hike from Hákonarstaði farm) sides is off Road 923.
Basalt columns are formed by a process called columnar jointing when still magma cools down. When it cools down, it contracts and separates into columnar joints, often hexagonal. The separation begins where the cooling is greatest and continues as the rest cools little by little. They usually stand perpendicular on the cooling surface.